There is no failure - only feedback.

v Gwent at Torquay CC on Sunday 13th July, 2008

Mid season friendlies are often an opportunity to rest players and involve others - and to meet Gwent just a couple of days prior to the ECB Cup Quarter Final clash with Wales, this was also a chance to look at some potential members of the opposition in that match also.

As a pointer, the Wales players within the Gwent side at Torquay all contributed and gave the Devon players plenty of food for thought. For Devon there was plenty of insightful contemplation at the end about what led to the below par performance, when it happened, and what lessons can be learnt from the day and how we can move on.

The pitch was somewhat damp following very heavy rain on the previous Friday, and having won the toss Devon put the visitors in to bat. The first 10 overs saw Devon in control, with Toby Lochead getting the early breakthrough, and Gwent scored 29 in the period. Fielders continued to support good bowling through the entire time up until drinks at 22 overs - when the score was 63 for 2. Seamus McKenna had raced to pick up a top edged shot off George Yates to get the second wicket, and Matt Golding had just begun a particularly good spell on a helpful wicket that was starting to dry out.

Something in the drinks?

Much is written and spoken about the distraction of the drinks breaks - but for Devon in this match, the break twice came as something of a nemesis. In the field they lost energy and focus, whilst Gwent batters by contrast turned up the positivity, pressure and intensity. At 25 overs gone they were 78-3, and in the next 20 overs they racked up 150 runs, dominating every bowler bar Golding and for Devon it was an experience hopefully to be savoured just the once!

Facing probably 70 runs more than they had expected Devon's first half batting was much better than Gwent's. In spite of losing Tom Cummins to a mercurial leg-side stumping off the opening bowler, the applecart continued to roll along well, as Tom Ansell, Matt Golding and Tom Drake all kept the run rate ticking over. At the drinks break Devon were 88 for 2 and beginning to think about exploiting this good platform in order to set about assaulting the Gwent total.

But after the break the daemons returned and positivity and energy drained away. From 92-3 in the 25th over Devon sank to 113-8 in the 36th. Eleven overs, 21 runs, 5 wickets.....this is a pattern that has been noticed in other matches, and will no doubt become a point for discussion over the next 20 days or so. Some pride was restored by Seamus McKenna and particularly Merrick Steward with a 9th wicket partnership of 28, but Devon's innings finally closed on 151 - ironically the total they had set out to restrict Gwent to earlier in the day!

Fielding

Catches -

T. Cummins - 2

S. McKenna - 1

Runouts - 1

Gwent won by 74 runs