Devon U13 v Wales U13
at Panteg CC, 23rd June, 2008
Devon 154-7 in 40 overs
Wales 156-4 in 38 overs
Wales won by six wickets
Panteg Cricket Club was a wonderful surprise: a flat bowl in a hilly housing estate, and it provided a wonderful setting for a tense match. Bearing in mind we were bundled out for only 49 in last year’s match, and we had earlier lost to Gwent, this was an encouraging performance by a team that is gradually growing in confidence, but still has a way to go.
Our batting yet again revolved around captain Mikey Cousens. His 57 was well-paced, and allowed two smaller knocks with Lawrence May (25) and Rhys Davies (20) to happen. The other members of the team really do now need to ponder the idea that batsmen need to build big totals from firm foundations. Only Mikey is regularly doing that. Running between the wickets has improved, but we did not have sufficient urgency in the vital 10 overs at the end, apart from the customary slog in the last three. With wickets in hand, we could have aspired to 180.
Wales had two good batsmen who shared a big stand in the middle of the innings. This is not the first time this has happened – remember Dorset? Jack Popham had some success, and Ben Stein bowled tidily, but we could not bowl the Welsh out, and they pushed home with two overs to spare.
We now have to focus again on the cup competition, with a trip to St.Minver for the Cornish game. Still, on our improvement curve, we might yet give our neighbours a good run for their money!
GHC