An uneventful ninety minute journey down from Hertfordshire to Sussex enabled Devon to avoid two five hour plus trips later in the summer in the high holiday traffic season, one of the primary reasons that this exhausting tour was undertaken. Being too close to last food orders at the Sportsman, the specials had gone and there were only two Eton Messes left. However Jonathan Debenham had a crash course in bar billiards and Chris Metters was uncertain which county he was in. The gammon and burgers went down well and the Hickstead Travel Lodge was old school, cooler and quieter and with the most efficient Little Chef experienced in years.

The actual game was one of the most remarkable performances from this age group it was surreal and the coach had to be restrained on a couple of occasions from joining in on the celebrations. We might give up the option of tossing as for two summers it has been a worthless experience. An interesting conversation was overheard from a top order parent who felt it would be safe to go off and do something as his son was unlikely to be at the crease for some time. The Post Office was however a necessity to get the match details to the 21s and 16s in the post but, before the car had even left, Sussex were three down for nine. Debenham swooped Thompson took a difficult half volley and Johnson was run out 7-1. With Toby Ingham unable to take any part in the match, the captain opened with Matt Hickey, on nine Smith bowled Adlam and next ball had the opposition's captain Thorpe caught behind, you had to sympathise with his parents as they had left the ground! The really encouraging news was that Thommo was back! Not keeping regularly at club level he had been struggling but not any more he was exceptional. Sussex reached 19 in seven when opener Jones was out to the Smith –Thompson combination. At 20-5 it really did become surreal as Chapman became Hickey’s first wicket with an edge to the keeper. The sixth wicket put on the highest partnership of the innings when 47 were added when Endersby was well caught by the diving leg side keeper off Hickey and lunch was taken on 88-6. One run later the alert Thompson noticed that Marsh's foot was not on the line and he gave Gilmour his first wicket and his own final fantasy points of the innings. Peter Randerson, who had been complaining of strains and pains, then caught the keeper Sewell, who was to score an outstanding ton the next day, and Rebbetts to give Gilmour and Hickey more wickets. Sussex was now 110-9 as four were added for the final wicket as Gilmour took his final wicket trapping Geffen leg before. Awesome! The Devon openers put on 41 in seven when Randerson was leg before to Geffen, Luke Bess lasted only six balls to be caught behind when tea was taken at 45-2. After play was delayed by 20 minutes for bad light, Smith and Thompson took their side up to 79 but then Smith played one of his more infuriating shots to be caught for 21. Fortunately Thompson fully understands his batting role in this side and he was playing it perfectly. The hundred was reached in the thirtieth over but three runs later Thompson left the field for the first time that day when he was bowled for an invaluable 95 ball 33. Metters also was not to bat the second day as first innings points were taken in the thirty-eighth over and he was caught for the third 21 off the innings. Luke Tuckett was promoted to bat through with Matt Hickey to close of play which they did successfully. No need to discuss the day's play everyone knew that Devon had been outstanding. The football was energetic, which was a major surprise, and Debenham putting his new knowledge into practice at the Sportsman which was now well stocked with Eton Messes.  

Bonus batting points were now the order of the day but only one was achieved as Devon was bowled out four short of the second point. After not looking in any trouble at all Matt Hickey was not quick enough to beat a throw and was run out after putting on 24 with his South Devon colleague. Tuckett seemed to be aware of his role when he had helped achieve the first batting point but then lost concentration and tried to pull a ball from outside off stump to be well caught at slip, a very disappointing end. Gater who was batting with authority was joined by Mark Gilmour and it was anticipated that at 164-7 at least a couple more batting points could be achieved. At 178 Gater was caught and four runs later Gilmour slashed to be brilliantly caught by a diving third man!  This had been a poor spell and Debenham and Carr now had the responsibility of scoring the required 18, they failed by four as at 12.20pm Devon was all out. Sussex batted for thirty minutes and off eleven overs were 25-0 with no indication of what was to happen in the post lunch session. In these two hours Devon reduced their hosts to 97-7 leaving them fifteen in front. Jones was caught and bowled by the captain, Metters trapped Adlam in front first ball and then bowled Johnson through the gate. Endersey was Smith's second wicket when he was bowled by a cut back, Hickey’s amazing direct hit from the furthest boundary ran out Chapman and Sussex were astonishingly 42-5. With parents now watching, the Sussex captain was grounding it out but after a forty-nine ball four was superbly caught by the diving cover point Alex Carr – inspirational! With tea approaching the Sussex seventh wicket had put on 44 when Smith turned to his fellow wicket-keeper Luke Tuckett for a wicket. It came with the first ball of his second over when he bowled the first innings top scorer Marsh. Many different celebrations have been witnessed but none like this one! Tuckett sacrificed tea to ensure that the South Devon area had been advised of his exploits. Sadly, although this wicket had taken Devon up to 18 points, it was to be the last as Sussex‘s eighth wicket partnership put on an unbeaten 149 to grossly flatter the home side. Sewell batted beautifully for his 195 ball hundred and Rebbetts gave excellent support in scoring 49 off 122 but Devon was running on empty, an experience the scorer was to enjoy later in the day. Bowlers and fielders alike were shot, the luck that had been with them for five sessions deserted them and bowlers had reached their maximum not just in the innings but the week. Fortunately they were able to slow down the rate in the last hour when they needed to bowl seventeen but looked like bowling 20 plus with Tuckett on a loop running back to his mark. They bowled nineteen and only just stopped Sussex reaching a fourth batting point another over would have given it to them. It was a disappointing way to end but in no way could it cloud what had gone on previously it had been an extraordinary performance. So much can be taken from this game, all most encouraging and the players had dug very deep inside of themselves.