Although this game was curtailed by rain, the day started promisingly with a tale of two warm ups. Our opponents, Hertfordshire had won the previous day on the last ball to the young Isle of Wight side and they appeared to be involved in a lengthy discussion that seemed to go on and on. Whereas Joe Smith had his group soon up and running and our hosts, GKN, considered that the game was already virtually won! There is a movement for some counties to put great faith in their emerging players programme and the appointment of a lead coach. It is considered important that although Devon will be working increasingly with their emerging players that they do not fall into the trap that other counties appear to have fallen into. Cricket at youth level must still remain fun albeit with a very competitive edge but it does seem to be becoming increasingly serious and it is doubtful if this approach will result in any more test players but most certainly it could result in a loss of players who play purely for enjoyment.

Devon won the toss and batted, having discussed the concerns about the performance of the lower order Matt Thompson volunteered to try and marshal the lower order resourses and this enabled one of the original plans to be carried out - the promotion of William Gater to open the innings. Gater is one of the most naturally gifted of this group but has tended to be short on application and awareness of the game situation. If he can harness both to his natural ability he will be an exceptional talent. With Luke Tuckett 54 were added in fourteen overs and 50 minutes, Tuckett had played his part and after hitting two fours in his 19 was caught. Two short of the hundred were added for the second, the best second wicket partnership of the summer, in 75 minutes off 138 balls when Gater’s superb contribution came to an end he displayed all his good points and added the ingredient of application, something he had also demonstrated against the Hertfordshire seventeen’s earlier in the summer. He had batted two hours five for a splendid 75 (six fours and 4 sixes). His partner Ryan Stevenson had been no slouch either hitting 45 off 68 balls. A vital partnership which boded well for 2009. Gater is unlikely to open in 2009 but his aspirations must be to bat at the top of the order. Dartington and Totnes added 32 off 33 when the captain holed out. Miles Lenygon now had eight overs to demonstrate his batting ability. Due to his ongoing back problem he now has only one string to his bow. With Stevenson another thirty-four runs were added off 39 balls when Stevenson’s fine innings came to an end with just seventeen needed for his maiden county hundred. He had faced only 102 balls, batted one minute under two hours and hit six fours and three sixes another top performance from this fine all-rounder. Somerset had noticed him in their game with us at Axminster and he has subsequently been invited to attend at Taunton.The batters were peppering the submarine boundary and things got so bad that a matrimonial lap was sought for protection. With Devon eighteen past the two hundred Lenygon and Thompson put on 13, to be fair Lenygon put on 13 as Thompson did not face a ball. Superb marshalling! Lenygon was bowled by Randall, who had played at Haileybury in July, for a season’s best 24. Thompson, Parkin and Field took the score up to a most satisfactory 243. Thompson did his job batting for fourteen minutes scoring at a run a ball and was undefeated on 1 as he watched another twenty-one added at the other end. A chance was taken to have a guided tour of the Islands incredible new ground at Newclose near Newport, that has facilities that are up to first class standards. It is hoped that Devon will have the opportunity of playing at this amazing ground in the future.

Hertfordshire decided to make the most of a batting opportunity and scored 74 in 34.2 overs scoring at 2.18 when the required rate was 4.86. They had lost four wickets when very heavy rain brought an early conclusion to the game. Ingham had struck at 4, Carr at 43, Debenham had Patel caught for a duck eight runs later and Field removed the opener Onion with the last ball before the umpires called them in. The opener had batted 113 minutes facing 98 balls for his 28. Hickey had shared the overs around and Devon had performed very well throughout the game. During the break the rain became even heavier and after checking the bonus point situation the game was called off in Devon’s favour. Hertfordshire would have needed to score at over ten and a quarter to win the game.

In the rain we showed our appreciation to our hosts, particularly their most helpful groundsman and as the two remaining games would be at Ventnor there would be no need to man a scoreboard. However it was disappointing that a reluctance to do the numbers appears to be in the genes as the coach had to change on one occasion a request to a directive which is not how it should be. It continued to rain as we returned to Sandown and on the earlier advice of JJ Debenham You Don’t Mess with the Zion was the designated film. There were some amusing scenes in the salon but this effort of a version of a Crocodile Dundee type comedy which stared Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel and Judd Apatow, did perhaps deserve no more than the one star one critic gave. Hopefully the message that You Don’t Mess with the Coach at least got through.  The cinema was left in more rain and concern for the following day mounted.