Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA U14s 2012 Hampshire ECB CC Match Report

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Hampshire ECB CC Match Report

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"Small things can make, no, make a difference!"

The weather was concerning but West Devon players and management set off, in the rain, at 6.15AM for the 3.5 hrs drive to Trojans CC Southampton. The text and phone were busy- is the game really on? Yes Hampshire confirm the weather is okay. First mishap of the day, or was that not finding the lead for the music and/or forgetting the kachets, Nick's car keys, but fortunately the Exeter Court Hotel reception staff don't see a market for a black peggit! Panic over. Arrive Trojans and find that they are not expecting us! No pitch prepared, indeed no pitch covered just yesterdays used pitch and its damp, no changing rooms open, no facilities and no tea. Oh dear - not what we were expecting having driven for 3.5 hours!

Anyway we have to get on with it and make the most of it. Control the controlables as they say. Warm up goes well, good atmosphere. The toss only one thing to do but yo

u have to win it first. Coddy looses the toss and we are put in. Hum! From the first ball our worst fears are evident. It pops off a length, then keeps low, seams and is generally erratic. Not a great track which the umpires confirm at drinks when they raise concerns about safety. It is not going to be easy and if we score 100 we will have done well. Don't tell the lads. We must take every run, that's absolutely critical but we don't start well as it is just a case of survival - which we do but we don't score any runs. Toby then takes one in the box and others get hit on the body. Unpleasant. He is then bolwed. Enter the "Pink One". The run rate will pick up - whoops another mishap and Steery runs himself out with no additon to the score- there was a run there though. 12-2 off 10 overs. Ben Green joins Pyle and together they slowly start to get used to the pitch- the change of bowling helped as Hampshire's openers gave nothing away. After 23 overs Devon are 33-2 and Pyle has just taken a nasty blow from a ball being thrown in just above his knee. The introduction of the spinners takes the presure off as there is at least a ball an over to hit and the score starts to race along- comparatively so- although only because of the boundaries, as there are still not many singles being taken! Greener is dropped on 40 and then completes his second acco

mplished 50 in two matches before in the 32nd over with the score on 70 Pyle mis judges and is bowled off stump. Playing with no fear, nothing to loose, Charlie Barriball and Will Thompson then play little cameos but die for the Team whilst Green continues, having been dropped again on 56, to punish anything short and over pitched. Freddie Filor, hits the ball cleanly and ups the run rate further by taking singles and giving Green the strike and Devon finish on 149-5 off their 45 overs. 20-30 short especially if the track continues to dry out?

There were too many singles and twos and threes missed during the innings; I accept the pitch was dificult but it was annoying given what was discussed beforehand and the runs were there. It is a state of mind guys- think about it! Two runs short, yes two runs short! This might also prove very costly! For the record Jake Reddick mentioned how he was given one short taking a single by a former U14s father. His other comments I cannot repeat! Hampshire bowled 13 extras. Again this might be of interest later too.

We take tea, kindly prepared by a Hamps

hire parent, and then we talk about how we are going to approach bowling and fielding. No extras, pitch it up, make them play and stop the singles as if our lives depend upon it. Greener bowls the first over to alay Goodey and a wide 6th ball- perhaps not surpring as he had just batted for so long? Might Steery or another have to open if Greener continues to bat so well? Dan bowls better but again a wide in his first over. In the 6th over Goodey then up roots Harsham's off stumps and spirits rise. Are we not however bowling a little short? After 10 overs its 22-1 a very good effort but with the bowling changes the run rate increases from 1-2 an over to 3-4 an over and Hampshire Birnie and Caldera start to build. We don't help ourselves as singles are taken, some to players who are not antiscipating enough or just a little too deep and the odd boundary occurs. Half chances come and go, to silly mid on and in the deep at mid wicket and it is not until the 16th over that we have a maiden over! There are lots of near misses but the last ball often went for a run or two or four! With so many seamers we must also look after the ball more- shine it ! As I told you at the begining of the season too, if you bowl a bad over, just one, expect to be taken off. Toby has licence to do that with so many bowlers in the side especially when we are trying to keep runs down - it might also be someone's elses day.

At the second drinks break Nick must have said something as Greener and Goodey come back on and Goodey has Bernie caught by Wo

lfy off a missed time short ball at mid wicket. Some luck at last? Two overs later Greener bowls a jaffer and Caldera nicks off and Jamie takes a smart catch behind. 117-3 off 34. Another very sharp catch goes begging, a take down the leg side. When Greener finishes his spell the "Pink One" grabs the ball as he wants to be part of the action and make it happen- interestingly I had written "make it happen" don't wait for it to happen in my notes in the 18th over. There follows two fantastic catches by Greener at short extra. The first a full blooded drive just stuck and the next ball he parries slightly and catches the rebound. Gosh Steery is now pumped - hat trick ball- almost a leg side wide.. 132-5 off 39 overs. A double wicket maiden! The 40th over is our 3rd maiden- brill Dan G - pressure- only another 5 maidens to reach our goal. Greener misses his hat trick catch at short extra, well Steery thought so- "you should have flicked it up with your foot not let it hit your foot". 18 required off 48 balls - don't panic but there was visible panic on the side lines. The assured McCoy was not having any of it though, waiting for the bad ball and putting it away. Coddy realising he wanted a single off Wolfy last ball brings Will Thompson up to orthodox mid on and McCoy mis hits and Thompson takes a comfortable catch. 142-6 with 3 overs to go. Another wicket would be interesting? We then keep the runs down; why didn't we field with this intensity earlier, but Hampshire with wickets in hand, creep across the line with 4 balls to spare. A great game; a great finish to what had been an indifferent day.

So we took it to the last over; showed great spirit, fight and character. But why did it take Nick's words at the second drinks interval to get you going? Nick's speech is below! We let them get too many singles some as I said earlier straight to fielders; we chased balls taking the wrong angle at times and even dived over the odd ball. Even though Hampshire parents felt we were the better fielding side, we still need to be hungrier in the field. Remember all that fielding in the ring practice. Get low, expect, antiscipate every ball. Get dirty by diving early- start in a low position it makes it easier. Get into an agressive throwing position as early as you can too; to try and put the batters off their second run. Some of you are better in certain positions than others - help Toby by pointing this out. Finally one other little thing we have been working on. Extras. How many did we bowl 18, that is 5 more than Hampshire! Just another little thing, a small thing that can make a difference and to work on..

So take all the little/ small things and add them together and guess what we could have won, should have won! Again Hampshire parents said this, and they are right, you had the worst of the track, the worst of all the conditions and you nearly won, you scared them. Okay you came second, just, but you must take great credit and confidence from the way you reacted and played in getting so close. Learn form it and don't forget the U14s lost to Hampshire last year but made the National Finals. Home by 9.15PM. A long day!

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