Having to wait for the 16s to finish their game at Axminster and after a long journey the Devon players arrived late at their hotel in Reading and introduced themselves to the Barclay Bank girls in perhaps the style they would not normally adopt when they undertake a shot played on the back foot to a short pitched delivery, played at full arms stretch and were treated to a lesson in basic Anglo Saxon. The corridors were narrow and coffins do make noise. The Reading Cricket Ground looked in good condition but surprising the outfield caused major problems for both sides as the game unfolded. Carr sensibly disregarded the vice captains advise on the toss and won it. This side’s success has been built on a sound opening partnership but for the second game in succession Bess went early and we had to rebuild. Mickey Wilkinson promoted after his fine performance against Cornwall then proceeded to put on 104 with Dan Bowser then 26 minutes after lunch Wilkinson for some reason appeared to get frustrated and was stumped for a 112 ball 45, totally unnecessary as the two of them had been building a sound position. The hero from Cornwall then joined Bowser and it was a Lord’s Mayor situation as he was caught on the second ball he received. From 122-1 Devon was now 122-3 in not such a good position. Stephen Knight joined his room mate but it was not to be a long partnership as Bowser was trapped in front by left armer Beavon for an excellent 68. He had batted for 158 minutes facing 139 balls and hitting 11 fours. At 140 - 4 off 47 overs it was necessary to press on and Steve Knight and Jack Porter proceeded to equal the record fifth wicket partnership that Piper and Cooke had set in 2004. They put on 134 off 190 balls and the side were back on track for the final batting point. Beavon bowled Porter for a well crafted 63 (114 minutes, 91 balls and 5 fours). Knight was experiencing no difficulty coasting to his maiden hundred when three runs past the final batting point he called the under 16 captain, Joe Smith, and was run out although the third umpire might have been called. He fell 16 runs short of the ton, faced 144 balls hitting 12 of his 135 balls for 4. The side were now fully back in control. The 16 and 17 captains took the score to 319 when Smith was well held at gulley. The final pairing of Carr and Justin Yau took the side to 350 and teed off to see if we could have a bowl at our hosts. Carr called it a day at 375 giving his bowlers six overs. Hampshire academy player Howell, who had taken a hundred off the side the year before at Exmouth gave a less experienced team mate the opportunity of introducing himself to Tom Allin and Scott Barlow and after the completion of the one hundred and second over of the day Berkshire were 6-0.

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