Sussex v Devon 17th/18th July Horsham C.C.

Scorecard

It seemed appropriate that as the side entered the well appointed Horsham ground that the tune on the radio should be Travis enquiring why the rain....The ground had suffered seven hours constant rain the previous day and night and despite extensive covering was very wet. With the help of a waterhog and the excellent ground staff it was agreed that play would start at 1.30pm . Unfortunately it rained again during the early lunch break and it was suggested by the umpires that the sides should return for a 50 over game the following day. Sussex were very keen to get the game underway, they had won the toss and had elected to bat but in the hope of getting the game started on the first day offered to reverse the decision, as they had no problems with their players fielding and bowling in the damp conditions. The gullible Devon Manager put this proposition to the side and after a great deal of debate and calculations it was agreed to start. At 47-7 the Manager had penned his letter of resignation and was just about to click the print button when tea came. But first let us go back thirty-seven overs.At 3.05 the game started in overcast conditions with a wet outfield and the openers Michael Wigley and Tom Bowring batted against the new ball attack. A couple of chances were not taken but after eleven overs Wigley opened the face to nick a catch to the keeper. The captain Nick Watkin joined Bowring and watched as he walked past one from off spinner Raynor to give Gardner his second victim at 27 after eighteen overs. It was the off spinner who was causing the most problems with bounce and turn and the initial short leg soon was joined by a silly point as the pressure was increased. First Marc Bettiss, who had tried his favourite sweep, to remove the pressure, was bowled through the gate then both Adam Parker and Jack Horton fell in a similar manner caught at silly point playing forward. 30-5 became 43-6 as Tim Piper became Taylor ’s second victim trapped in front. Throughout this carnage Watkin was batting with great character and not a little skill as he adopted soft hands against the spinner. He batted 80 minutes facing 92 balls when three balls before tea he tried to whip one from Taylor through mid wicket to be bowled. Up until then he looked in no trouble on a pitch that was not easy to bat on and he had difficulty in concealing his disappointment as he departed for tea. So at 46-7 Devon were in one of their larger holes. Tea brought a total transformation, no longer was it necessary to take a copy of your birth certificate to the crease as Devon ’s opening bowling attack of Chris Jenn and Craig Miles put on one of Devon ’s more heroic partnerships. These tall men batted with great style and ability.

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