Devon Cricket Board - DCBYA U14s 2013 Festival Match Reports

Derbyshire Day 1 Pitch 3

On one of the hottest days of the year and after the excitement of the first night at the festival the U14s were put in by Derbyshire on Pitch 2, on a pitch which looked as if it would turn later in the day. We were happy as the Team wanted to bat! Due to the heat matches had been reduced to 45 overs with regular drinks breaks.
The new opening partnership’s, Joe Hagan-Burt and Harvey Sargent, first over was going well until Harvey managed to drag one on. 8-1. Billy joined Joe and runs flowed reasonably freely and they took the score onto 62 in the 13^th over, just before the drinks break, when Billy moving down the pitch slightly yorked himself. Noah and Joe then took the score onto 123 in the 29^th over, at times getting a little bogged down by hitting the fielders too often and perhaps not rotating the strike enough. Derbyshire applied the pressure too by giving Joe a single and then bowling at Noah who usually for him faced a lot of dot balls. In the 30^th over on 45 Joe missed a good ball and is bowled. Next over and just what we didn’t want a second wicket in two overs, Noah is caught at backward point, miss timing a shot - was it a bump ball though? 127-4. Finlay Marks and Ben Phillips then take the score onto the last over before lunch, runs not coming so freely any more when Fin snicks off and is caught behind. 138-5 off 36. There are similarities with the Dorset match, losing wickets mid overs and not scoring enough runs. Neal sees out the two balls before lunch with 9 overs left. Derbyshire must have been disappointed it was lunch as they were in control.
After lunch the first over is quiet and then Neal and Ben start to push on and then in the 40^th over 15 runs are scored and in the last 6 overs they score 65! We end up on 212-5. Phillips 38* and Osborn 30* a partnership 74 in 9 overs, fantastic batting lads. There is a difference of opinions, 180 or 240 par? We will see. Which ever we will have to bowl well and field out of our skins. Will those middle overs and loss of quick wickets come back to haunt us?
The decision is taken to open with Alex and Christian and leave Joe for the tail and they bowl well although perhaps not making the batsmen play enough. The first change comes in the 9^th over when Pethy comes on with the score 24 and he continues to apply the pressure. Joe H-B takes the first wicket though, second effort Pethy in the 16^th over with the score on 46, and we are very much in the match. Just before the wicket fell there was a shout for a catch behind which the players were convinced was out. What a difference that would have made. Harvey and Neal come on and Neal has Derbyshire’s number 2 caught at mid on by Christian and then Harvey bowls Derbyshire’s number 4 with the score on 98-3 in the 26^th over. Game on. Perhaps then however we started to bowl too many 4 balls and runs started to be scored backward of square, the same area we scored boundaries. At the drinks break in the 32nd over, Derbyshire had perhaps started to take back the initiative, by taking singles and hitting the bad ball and we have to make changes and take risks. Bring on Pethy and give big Joe a go. Big Joe doesn’t quite get it right and the extra pace with the length he bowls makes scoring runs easier. When he bowls it is the block hole it is a different storey. Pethy then comes on and traps Derbyshire’s number 3 who is master mining their run chase, LBW.159-4 in the 35^th over. Another wicket or two would certainly give us the edge but the Derbyshire batters bat well, and as the week unfolds we find out just how strong their batting is. In the 42^nd over Joe H-B takes another wicket, and then in Pethy’s next over we drop a catch and there is a missed stumping before the same player clubs the winning runs with 8 balls left. A great match and yet another close finish from which the players and Team can take a lot of encouragement. Just that little more self belief and confidence is going to see them win one of these close matches!

Scorecard

Wales Day 2 Pitch 2

After the tremendous thunder and lighting storm of the previous night, two players slept through it and one was on Facebook hoping it would stop, it was dry but overcast at breakfast and the matches due to start on time at 10.00AM. The warm up went well and Wales won the toss and put us in. There were mixed views in the camp as to whether to bat or bowl; bowl was probably the right call. Against a very good Wales opening attack runs were hard to come by, but slowly Joe Hagan-Burt and Harvey Sargent came to terms with the attack and after 10 overs we were 31 without loss, which was good given the bowling. The next 7 overs saw another 21 runs scored before Hagan-Burt 32 is bowled. 52-1 off 17 overs, perhaps this time given a 45 overs match a little slow but then we did have wickets in hand. Billy Rudolph and Sargent take the score onto 115 in the 34^th over when Rudolph 26 is out caught. Pressure is now beginning to mount due to the run rate and Noah Wright is out almost immediately as a result. Neal Osborn, promoted, joins Sargant, but Harvey 48 then gets out. Once more we have lost quick wickets, a familiar story, due perhaps to the pressure of run rate. Ben Phillips and Osborn continue their fine form and try to push things on with another fine stand of 60 in 7 overs but Phillips falls trying to hit out and Osborn follows next ball in the penultimate over. Finlay Marks and Jim Shepherd take 11 off the last over and we finish on 194-5, perhaps 20-30 short of what we should have had if we had taken more singles/ rotated the strike and not lost wickets in clumps.
We now had to bowl well and field out of our skins for the second time in two days to try and win the match. Joe Langsworthy and Christian Cabburn open up but 13 runs come off the first two overs but then they get some control and the scoring rate slows. After 7 overs and with the score on 27 Pethy is brought on to replace Christian. Second ball be has Manley LBW, next ball Griffiths gets a thick edge but is given LBW and third ball Langrish is bowled, 28-3 and the first hat trick I have had in 14 years at this level – brilliant Pethy and we are in the game! Unfortunately Harry Ward’s first over releases the pressure but Pethy and Billy Rudolph quickly reapply it and Pethy takes another wicket in his third over. 52-4 off 12 overs. Unlike the other Welsh players, Wall decides to play a straight bat to Pethy and gradually Richards, who has gained confidence starts to hit the bad ball for boundaries and before we know it Wales are back on track. Pethy has the next say though taking his 5^th wicket LBW again, 104-5. Murray Williams joins Richards and is dropped off Rudolph which proves to be expensive as he and Richards then put on 96 in 15 overs to win the match for Wales with over 5 overs to spare. Not the result we were hoping for. Where did we go wrong, those middle overs again perhaps, not scoring quite enough runs, bowling the wrong areas to Richards, who used his bottom hand a lot and scored on the on side and perhaps bowling too many 4 balls.

Scorecard

Yorkshire Day 3 Pitch 1

The decision had been made the night before at the team meeting that if we won the toss we would bowl first and Joe H-B won the toss and inserted Yorkshire. Unfortunately we bowled one or two bad balls an over and Brook raced to his fifty in 47 minutes and Yorkshire got off to a flier. Once he had reached his fifty though he slowed down and his partner Loten took over and started to score the runs having been dropped at square leg - a regulation catch! Even though Yorkshire were finding batting relatively easy Devon energy and commitment in the field was good although the odd half chance went begging. Finlay Marks keeping for the first time in the week showed his potential, keeping tidily and having a part in the run outs, one from Wardy a superb throw from deep mid off. Petherbrdige eventually bowled Brook leg stump for 126 and Harry Wards leggies accounted for Loten and Pick. Christian Cabburn got the other two wickets to fall and due to Devon’s fighting spirit Yorkshire finished on 250, which at one stage threaten to be nearer 300.
Yorkshire opened with spinners and Hagan-Burt and Sargent proceeded cautiously before Joe pushed at the slow left armer and is well caught in the slips. Noah Wright followed shortly miss cueing to mid off and Harry Ward given the chance, plays across the line second ball and is luck not to be given out LBW but then shortly afterwards miss cues a sweep and is caught behind off a top edge. Ben Phillips and Sargant then take the score on; with Phillips catching Sargent up before Sargent misses one down the leg side and is well stumped for 32 - 57 partnership. Marks joined Phillips and they put on 40 before Marks miss cues and is caught too. Shepherd next and Phillips gets his well deserved 50, long overdue as he has batted well all season and during the week, off 65 balls but almost immediately he gets out caught. Shepherd is unluckily LBW off his gloves before Osborn 22 takes us pass the 177 we need for a losing draw with a big 6 and then gets out bowled with an over or so to go!! Billy Rudolph who has dropped down the order to accommodate others then sees us home with Alex Hannam in support. A good well deserved result. That evening there is a very positive vibe in the camp and we fancied beating Worcestershire the next day.

Scorecard

Worcestershire Day 4 Pitch 1

As I say there was a good team spirit the night before after the draw against Yorkshire. The fines meeting went well, with the usual suspects coughing up! The warm up is good but perhaps not as sharp as Wednesday, tiredness creeping in. The pitch is slightly damp one end where water had run on during the night. It certainly looks like a bat second track. Once more Joe wins the toss and we insert Worcestershire.
Big Joe opens and unfortunately second ball a miss field allowed a 4 even thought the outfield is slow and wet. Alex opens the other end with control and after 4 overs Worcestershire have 8 runs. Billy comes on in the 7^th over but concedes 7 runs and is replaced by Pethy, who 6^th ball bowls Cameron leg stump. He really does have a habit of taking wickets in his first over! Alex continues his spell as he is bowling well and is then replaced by Neal. At drinks Worcestershire are 48-1. The over after drinks Neal bowls a long hop which is dispatched to deep backward square where Alex takes a fantastic running diving catch. A 49 run stand then follows before an inspired bit of fielding by Joe Hagan-Burt breaks it; 101-3 and then next over Pethy back on takes his second wicket as a result of a fine bit of work by Finlay Marks behind the stumps. 103-4. Devon’s fielding is the best it has been and 4 overs later Alex Hannam gets a well deserved wicket caught behind by Marks who is also having a good game. 107-5 in the 32^nd over. A partnership develops before some more good keeping sees another stumping off Christian Cabburn and next over Harvey Sargant gets a wicket caught Hagan-Burt. In the penultimate over the pressure results in a running mix up and the Derbyshire number 8 is coolly run out. They finish on 161-8.
The injured Hagan-Burt and Sargant open and in the second over Joe is bowled. Billy Rudolph is then caught behind and Devon are 5-2! Quietly I was anxious. Sidmouth College’s Finlay Marks joins his school colleague Sargent and they set about rebuilding the innings. Finlay runs the singles and makes Harvey run and Harvey bats with confidence and uses his feet brilliantly to the spinners. Their understanding is fantastic and before long the score starts to build. At drinks after 15 overs it is 59-2. They continue batting with confidence and understanding and Harvey reaches an excellent 50, possibly his best of the season. In the 29^th over with the century partnership fast approaching Ahmed gets one to lift and Harvey is caught off the shoulder of the bat at point. Ben Phillips plays a lovely straight drive but then chases a wide one and is caught behind. 118-4. Alex Hannam joins Finlay and Finlay makes his first County 50 before he is caught for 57. Hannam and Noah Wright batting down the order to let others have a chance then see Devon home with 5.4 overs to spare. A great well deserved over due victory at last for a side who has listened, worked hard and improved tremendously. Brilliant well done lads!

Scorecard

Gloucestershire Day 5 Pitch 2

After the evening before there was unfinished tennis business; the catching wasn’t great possibly due to the early wake up call (sorry!!), room clearing etc! It again looked like a bowl first track, slightly green and worn and let’s face it you can control Festival games better by doing so as we found and learned to our benefit on the Wednesday and Thursday. Joe H-B won the toss again and Gloucestershire were asked to bat.
Alex opened with a maiden and it is immediately was clear there was some uneven bounce, some pronounced. Other than a couple of wides big Joe’s first over is good and he follows with a maiden too. After 7 over, 21, the first change sees Pethy come on - there should be a wicket first over then -unusually not! Billy replaces Alex the other end and he takes a wicket bowling Forbes 26-1 off 9. Two overs later he takes his second Joe H-B taking a great diving catch, over his shoulder, injury and all, at mid off. Just what was needed and the spirits visibly grow. 34-2 off 13 and nearly drinks. Two overs after Billy takes his third wicket caught by Harvey and his fourth next over 53-4, very well caught by Ben Phillips standing up. The pressure is mounting on Gloucestershire and Neal Osborn then takes a wicket caught by Billy, 58-5 and that becomes 64-6 when Finlay Marks gets a wicket caught by Osborn and almost immediately, due to the pressure, Neal runs out the number 8, 66-7. At drinks it is “come on lets turn the screw” but as often happens in a match either we lower our concentration levels or Gloucestershire dig in and a partnership develops However due to the wickets taken it is slow and in the 41^st over, and just after the lunch break, Alex Hannam has Richards LBW and then takes the last two wickets one caught Harvey and the last a great over the head catch by Sheps. Brilliant - hopefully that will give him some confidence. Gloucestershire 118 all out.
Barney gives the team talk, and Joe H-B and Harvey open. Everything is going along nicely, Gloucestershire bowling well and to their field when Joe decides to take on a short ball miss cues and is caught. Billy and Harvey then take the score to 31 when Billy is adjudged LBW. No need to panic, lots of overs left and plenty of batting to come. Noah and Harvey then comfortably take the score on and at drinks you would have thought we would win by 8 wickets. However you never assume anything at U14 level and Harvey after hitting two great fours, he has decided to get the game finished, is out stumped for 38. 85-3 in the 25^th. We mustn’t commit the cardinal sin of losing two quick wickets but guess what Noah gets a half tracker which he whacks to deep square leg and is caught next over. 89-4. Oh dear! Finlay and Jim then fairly comfortably take the score pass 118 to win the match for Devon in the 32^nd over. This is another great result, which makes us 4^th overall and real reward for the lads who have worked so hard and become a real TEAM.

Thank you to the parents, grandparents and family friends for their support, kind words, sweats, tea, coffee etc during the week. Thank you to Wendy and Derek for scoring. Thank you to Barney for everything he has done during the week. The lads have enjoyed your company and learned a lot. Thank you too Ian and the umpires, Malcolm Broad, Ted, all the caterers and cleaning staff at Kings for another enjoyable and memorable week. Most of all thank you lads; it has been a great week. I hoped you enjoyed it.

It was along two and half hour journey home to Plymouth though!!

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