v BUCKINGHAMSHIRE at Ascott Park - Devon won on first innings

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 202 all out (A.Parker 3-29)

45-1

DEVON 300 – 9 dec (M.Wigley 55; M.Bettiss 66; A.Parker 35; J.Horton 72*)

v SUSSEX at Horsham C.C. – Devon lost on first innings

DEVON 176 all out (C.Miles 56*; C.Jenn 54)

101-2 dec (T.Bowring 32; N.Watkin 30)

SUSSEX 255-8

v OXFORDSHIRE at Sandford C.C. - Devon won on first innings

DEVON 298 all out (N.Watkin 36; J.Horton 85; A.Parker 54; T.Piper 46)

99-7

OXFORDSHIRE 145 all out (C.Miles 5-54)

v SOMERSET at Seaton C.C. - Devon lost on first innings

DEVON 247 all out (N.Watkin 65; C.Miles 80)

150-5 (M.Bettiss 33; A.Parker 48)

SOMERSET 300-1 dec

v CORNWALL at St Austell C.C. – Devon won on first innings

CORNWALL 225 all out (C.Miles 3-42)

170-5 dec (N.Watkin 3-19)

DEVON 268 -9 dec (M.Bettiss 123)

N.Watkin (Captain), M.Bettiss (vice captain) T.Bowring, J.Carr, J.Fraser, P.Garland, J.Horton, C.Jenn, L.Loveridge, C.Miles, R.Milton, A.Parker, T.Piper, D.Price, M.Wigley

The withdrawal of funding for older age group cricket is a travesty of justice for it is unlikely that this group of players will ever play together again. The satisfaction level of being involved with this year’s under 17s was high as, although they would never pretend to be the most talented group, they were one of the hardest working and pleasant squads that Devon has produced.

The season started with a week’s tour to Buckinghamshire and Sussex, playing the first match at the majestic Ascott Park ground on the Rothschild Estate, an attractive traditional Country House ground. On the first day, in temperatures that the players had last experienced in the Kruger Park, Bucks won the toss and batted and Devon was confronted with a long hard day in the field. However the players responded with a magnificent fielding and bowling performance and stuck to their task with an excellent end product. The omens were not good with a ten ball first over from Craig Miles but, in partnership with Chris Jenn, the opening batsmen were restricted to twenty-two runs off the first twelve overs. Adam Parker and Leon Loveridge then entered the fray and in the ninteenth over Parker trapped Price in front. Buckinghamshire then progressed to 50 after twenty-nine overs when the Devon captain, Nick Watkin, had Smith caught behind by Marc Bettiss. The third wicket pairing took the score to seven runs short of the hundred and then thirty-two minutes into the afternoon session Jenn and Bettiss combined to run out the dangerous Viney who had started the second session in a very confident manner. Watkins and Bolton continued to offer resistance but Devon kept taking wickets at vital stages with Michael Wigley taking two in two just before tea leaving the home side at 173-6. All of the bowlers put in good spells and Parker picked up three important wickets. Opening bowler Craig Miles came back to take the last two wickets as Bucks was bowled out in 91 overs for 202. This left the Devon openers Wigley and Tom Bowring with eleven overs to survive and this had nearly been achieved when Bowring was caught behind on the penultimate ball, leaving the visitors 25-1 overnight. The weather forecast and news from Devon indicated heavy thunder storms were on the way, so the game plan was to get passed the Bucks score as early as possible. Wigley and Watkin took the score to 46 but it was a critical third wicket partnership of 116 that looked like achieving the objective. The Torrington pairing of Wigley (55) and Bettiss (66) put on 116 off 110 balls and Devon was well placed at lunch on 161 after 47 overs. However the clouds were gathering and ten minutes into the luncheon adjournment it started to rain! This delayed the start after the interval but fortunately the clouds moved on. However much of the good work was undone as Wigley and Bettiss were dismissed within five balls of each other, leaving Devon 166-4. Adam Parker was scoring at the right tempo and, with Jack Horton, took the visitors passed their target before Parker was caught driving on the up for an excellent 30 ball 35. Unfortunately Piper, Miles, Jenn and Milton lost their wickets in the chase for the batting bonus points with rain still around but Jack Horton played a little gem of an innings, reaching a run-a-ball 72, including 19 off an over. At 300 Watkin called in his side in the hope of picking up some additional bowling points. Rain at 5.05pm brought a premature end to the game, with Bucks losing opener Smith to a fine gully catch from Horton just as the rain started.

On the second day Loveridge dutifully faced the first ball of the next morning and the second but fell on the third to leave Craig Miles unbeaten on 56 - his and Jenn's had been magnificent performances. There would be another twist in the tale, as Devon put on a totally united performance to put their hosts under pressure, with Miles and Jenn taking up with the ball where they had left off with the bat. Their miserly twelve over spell ended with 29 runs on the board. In some ways it was perhaps unfortunate that the Sussex openers had been the close fielders the night before but they were given little scope for adventure in a pressure fielding performance. It was Damian Price who struck first after his first four balls moved away he brought one back to remove Hemingway. Adam Parker then chipped in, first having Jarvis caught at mid wicket by Jenn than having the dangerous Atfield caught by Piper. 63-3 became 79-4 as Mike Gatting’s nephew was caught by Parker off Loveridge. Sussex was 96-5 as Laughman was trapped in front by Watkin at lunch. A fine team performance that was a credit to Devon. Lunch, as tea had the previous day, changed the complexion of the game as the Sussex captain and England under 17 keeper Gardner batted with great self belief and found good support in Tomsett, the pair putting on 81 to take their side to first innings lead points. At 177 Price came back to complete his second first over wicket maiden of the day, when Tomsett was caught by Marc Bettiss standing up. As is now common practice the batting side then went after quick additional batting points and it would be interesting to see when they would declare. They batted on 4.2 overs after tea and left Devon 29 overs. With Sussex setting attacking fields, the visitors were in no trouble on a now easy track but Wigley was run out by a direct hit going for a tight second although he did look as if he had been on the road for five days. Watkin started to help Bowring to the team’s objective of an additional batting point when he tried to hit one over the sight screen to be caught at slip. With 18 runs needed off three overs, it looked as though the objective might not be achieved but with Bettiss exploiting the lap, the reverse sweep and the slog the target was passed with five balls to spare. At this stage James Gibson and Watkin brought them in with much of the sides credibility restored. Bowring remained 32 not out after 82 minutes at the crease. A tired but happy team returned to Devon having notched up 600 miles, played in soaring temperatures and performed with great credit. The manager saved his letter for another occasion but vowed….The visit, on the return journey, to the Portuguese-only speaking Little Chef will remain in the memory for a long time and the fact that Gibson and Bettiss were too tired to play the alphabet game was a blessing.

It was now back to home soil for the next two fixtures as Oxfordshire were taken on at Sandford. Rain was going to be a problem in a very unsettled week and it was typical that the hosts had the square well protected on the day before our match. On the first day the ground was still damp and on winning the toss Oxfordshire took their time in making a decision. They elected to field which fell in line with the home side’s game plan. However second ball the plan looked to be in need of modification as Wigley lost his off stump to Skelton. Tom Bowring and Nick Watkin then took the score to 51 with little discomfort, when Watkin tried for the second time in the over to clear mid off and failed, which was most unfortunate as he was in very good form. So was Marc Bettiss but he only lasted eight balls when he was caught behind. Ten runs later Bowring departed on ten. Jack Horton was now joined by Adam Parker, two young batsmen who were also in good nick; they put on 79 in 113 balls with Parker the dominant partner scoring a fine fifty-six ball 54. In the fourth over after lunch Parker hit two superb fours through the covers off Khalid and then perhaps got greedy and tried to pull a third and was caught at square leg. Adam is not far off a big score for the county but his great virtue to this team is the rate he scores his runs, 48 of which were in boundaries. It was now time for a key under 16 partnership. Initially Jack Horton took control but once his overnight host Tim Piper had settled in it was very much a joint effort. At this level there is only one century partnership for the sixth wicket and it appeared they would soon make it two with the record 124 well in their sights. Sadly rain intervened at 3.24 and 14 minutes after the restart Horton was caught behind for a magnificent 85 (12 fours; 144 mins; 147 balls) the pair had put on 98 in 129 balls. Piper could not cope without his friend and went in the same manner seven runs later. This became 253 as Jenn went for a duck. The teams fourth under 16 player Damian Price then joined Craig Miles and showed he can not only hold a bat but can use it as they put on 40 for the ninth wicket, just 16 short of the record one that Price’s brother Nat holds with David Field. The side was now back on target for the final batting point but lost out by two runs as Miles was trapped leg before. This left Oxfordshire six overs to face and they seemed to be progressing satisfactorily when in the fourth scheduled over Miles took a hat trick, all leg before wicket. Devon was satisfied with a reasonable day’s work.

The fact that this game entered its second day is entirely due to the sterling work of Sandford. The predicted rain shed its load over night and arriving at the ground it looked as though the prospect of play was extremely remote. However Sandford is a club that wants you to play and, in spite of an important league match the next day, pulled out all the stops so play could commence at 2.45pm. With the extra hour 67 overs would be bowled in what were now ideal conditions. At 31 Miles bowled the visitor’s skipper Smith with a cart wheeler and 31 runs later Mark Bettiss took a neat stumping off Damian Price, who in this game had waited until his second over to take a wicket. The sixth wicket pairing of Eason and Dobson put on 42 when, just before tea, Eason was caught behind off the captain. After tea Craig Miles took his fifth wicket, Nick Watkin his second and Chris Jenn his first to reduce the visitors to 126-9. Discussions were held as to the best way of picking up additional bonus points and the County’s Development Officer felt the large crowd deserved a run chase and at ten to six this seemed appropriate. However the Oxfordshire last pair put on 19 and more annoyingly used up another nine overs. The innings ended when Bettiss picked up his third victim when Wigley had the promising Oxfordshire under 16 player Phillips caught behind for 23. Devon was left with 16 overs to score 100 and, as with the first innings, just fell short this time by one run as they ended on 99-7. It was a good attempt, with Bettiss, Horton, Watkin, Piper and Wigley all contributing but two vital runs outs at the wrong time were crucial. There was a full Stewards Enquiry into why Leon Loveridge had to bat at nine to face the critical last three balls when two runs were needed. It was particularly poor cricket and totally unfair on our off spinning number 11. The real winners were Sandford Cricket club who provided an excellent arena to play. The only disappointment was the bowling bonus points we gave Oxfordshire might have proved vital to final league placing later in the season.

Having prepared our calculations we knew before the first ball was delivered what was required if promotion was to be achieved in the first year of this new format ECB competition – an outright win. The three lost batting points would have been useful but as it transpired not vital although Oxfordshire had made great strides since we gifted them points at Sandford. It was our first class rivals who were in contention with us for promotion. The game plan would be simply win the toss; bat; score 370 plus; get Cornwall in on the first night and bowl them out twice – easy! In an exceptional summer the weather did not come into the reckoning until a heavy downpour early in the week on an uncovered square and a forecast of more rain started to spread doubts. Add in a heavy dew and a match in September, the only one for the 17s since their visit to the Canterbury Final in 1998 and plans were changed. Watkin won the toss and Devon fielded. The first hour was very difficult and Chris Jenn took the key scalp of Chris Martin in the third over caught behind at 9. However from then on until lunch it was all Cornwall, who advanced to 123 after 36 overs. There was fortunately a total transformation after the interval as Devon took six wickets for 86 runs. Leon Loveridge held two vital catches at mid on off Miles to remove the dangerous Jarman and Bray-Smith. Piper held two exceptional catches at mid wicket off Parker and tea came at 209-7. Within three overs after tea Cornwall was all out for 225 with James Carr taking two wickets, the second another remarkable catch by his fellow spinner Leon Loveridge who took the third wicket. Devon had thirty-two overs before close of play wicket-keeper and Marc Bettiss volunteered to open. The offer was accepted with some reservations but it turned out to be the right decision. With Torrington’s Mike Wigley, the North Devon pair put on 49 in 81 balls when Wigley holed out. Jack Horton put on another 28 before he gave Rowse a tame return catch and Devon was 77-2 after 20 overs. The skipper Nick Watkin and his keeper took Devon to close of play at 113, although at one stage it appeared that the side would have to spend the entire evening with their feet off the ground until the scorers fortunately found a wide and a no ball. It was anticipated that these two would form the key partnership the next day.

I can only repeat that it has been a tremendous pleasure to be involved with this group and watch them develop from an interesting tour of South Africa to coming of age against Cornwall. Both the scorer and I consider it to have been a very happy and enjoyable period – one we would have like to have continued. The captaincy team of Nick Watkin and Marc Bettiss was a very well balanced one and young aspiring captains should take a close look at Watkins many attributes.

Without Clubs such as Sandford and Seaton youth cricket in Devon would not have the deserved reputation it holds. We are very grateful to both clubs for staging our games so superbly. The Devon Society of Umpires and Scorers made their normal outstanding contribution. James Gibson fitted in the team like a glove and the scorer was her normal self!

The D.H.Watkins Trophy for the Young Cricketer of the Year was awarded to Marc Bettiss, whose contribution behind and in front of the stumps outstanding.