Just the Start Needed

v Wales at Blundells' School on Sunday 3rd June, 2007

On a dank, cloudy day with rain threatening and always promised for later in the afternoon, Devon lost the toss and were put in to bat on a firm but grassy wicket. It was the most bowler friendly conditions!

The Wales opening attack struggled to control prodigious swing from the outset and by the 4th over Devon were 21-0 with only 4 coming off the bat! Tom Mitcham (2) was first to go, bemused by the one ball that did nothing. Barney Huxtable joined Freddie Gabbitass and seemed untroubled until he failed to get on top of a pull and was caught at mid on for 9. At 34-2 Gabbitass and Alex Brown set about re-building the innings and with the day's best partnership of 56 put Devon back in command. It was controlled steady progress against a still swinging ball and some excellent off-spin from Salter. Brown was looking in good touch and the pair were just beginning to score freely when Salter bowled Brown for 27 at the start of the 27th over with the score on 90. The game swung back in Wales' favour as runs dried up once more and when Gabitass' patient knock of 28 came to an end Devon were on 102 with less than 13 overs to go. Salter claimed his second wicket when Cameron Grainger (10) was stumped but then George Stephenson and Zak Bess moved things on to 143 in the 41st over. They both fell within the space of 4 balls however and it was left to Will Steward and Ryan Skinner to prize another 13 runs from the last three overs.

Devon closed on 156 for 7 with Mr Extras making a sizeable contribution of 45 (including four 5-widers).

Ryan Skinner and Jacob Crouch opened up for Devon with the atmosphere still heavy and threatening! Drama in the first over as Skinner cleaned out Learing and Wales were 1-1 and then 16-2 at the start of the 6th over as Crouch yorked Salter with a beauty. Zak Bess and Barney Huxtable replaced the openers and between them applied the brakes with some difficult and well targeted deliveries. Bess had Claybrook caught by Tom Mitcham in the 13th over and Wales were 38-3 at this stage. When Will Steward took over from Bess coming down the slope he kept up the pressure and when joined by Andy Collier with leg spin, Wales were getting quite a bit behind the clock. Mitcham picked up another catch off Steward and when slow left-armer Dan Winsor came into the attack Cameron Grainger picked up a smart stumping down the leg side to reduce Wales to 66-5 in the 25th over.

Exciting Finish

Devon at this stage were 83, at least 3 overs ahead of the Wales rate. Windsor and Collier bowled well in tandem and Collier finally got the prized wicket of opener Williams in the 30th over to a catch by Skinner. With 10 overs to go Wales were 20 runs behind Devon at the same stage and they decided that attack was the only tactic left open to them By the time Baker was out, caught by Brown off Gabbitass they were on 111 in the 38th over and gathering momentum. Grainger then caught Morgan off Huxtable diving full length and it was 122-8 in the 41st over! At this stage Wales No.9 Sutton was striking the ball so well it was all Devon could do to keep him off strike...and 29 off the last 3 overs was always a possibility. Three balls in to the 43rd over it was 133 and spectators' knuckles were getting whiter! Three balls later it was all over - Huxtable bowled Burkitt and then Collier ran out Preece with a direct hit from deep mid on.On reflection the last dismissal summed up Devon's best area of performance - in  the field. The ground fielding was exemplary, positive and always attacking - every chance offered was taken and 'keeper Cameron Grainger was flawless and rightly Man of the Match. Although there is still plenty to work on especially in the bowling control area (5 extra overs bowled) it was congratulations all round especially for the four debutants.

Fielding

Runouts - 1 (Collier)

Stumpings - Grainger 1

Catches - Mitcham (2); Skinner, Grainger, Brown 1

Devon won by 21 runs

Cameron Grainger