Final match at Torquay v Somerset U10s Devon won by 61 runs
Team members in alphabetical order
Ed Butler, Morgan Couch, Harry Passenger, Cameron Ford, Matt Jeacock, Jake Pascoe, Will Popham, Harry Southgate, George Tapley, James Tyler, Lawrence Walker, Jack Whittaker.
Devon Under 10s concluded a fine season with an outstanding performance to
see off a confident Somerset side at Torquay's Recreation
Ground.
After winning the toss, Devon again opted to bat first
despite some reservations from Torquay "insider" Harry Passenger - playing on
his home ground - who was eager to bowl first.
Passenger's advice
looked well placed as Devon slumped to 32/4 in the 12th over, with all of
Devon's top 4 batters dismissed 'played on' to inside or bottom edges from
length deliveries. By this time it was quite obvious that the pitch was
generally on the low side, but Somerset's seamers bowled full and straight and
used the conditions to their advantage in the early stages.
If
Devon were to reach a competitive total a substantial rear-guard would be
needed. This began with Couch and Passenger adding a trouble-free 15 for the 5th
wicket before Couch became the 5th successive victim to a "play on". Another
solid partnership began to develop between Passenger and Popham until an
over-ambitious 2nd run resulted in the Torquay man being run out by several
yards and Devon back in trouble at 58/6.
One of the themes of the
season has been the depth of Devon's batting line up, and not for the first time
the lower order proved highly skilled in negotiating the team to a competitive
total. Jack Whittaker has often been at the heart of the lower order resistance
and Devon's own Moeen Ali - a specialist Number 8 batter - took up the mantle
with a series of quality scoring shots into the leg side. His score of 21 was
just one better than Popham's 20, and between them the pair added 29 for the 7th
wicket in just 6 overs before both went to good catches in quick
succession.
There was still enough time for more good partnerships
between Butler and Jeacock (19) for the 9th wicket and then an unbeaten 11
between Jeacock and Tapley to get Devon up to a final score of 135/9 in 35
overs. A very competitive total in the conditions.
After tea, Devon
opted for a change of approach with the new ball as the accuracy and consistency
of Tapley and Tyler was identified as being the best approach on the surface.
The target for the players was to limit scoring to 1 run per over in the first
10 overs and then allow scoreboard pressure to come into play to help take
wickets.
The management team could not have asked for a better
execution of the plan in a sublime display of accurate bowling, committed ground
fielding and all-round energy and teamwork.
At the end of 10
overs, the scoreboard showed Somerset as having reached
14/5.
Tapley (5-3-7-1) and Tyler (5-3-2-1) bowled consistent areas,
backed up by the best fielding display of the season, perhaps lead by Lawrence
Walker who made a tricky catch look very easy and then had a hand in 2 run-outs,
with Jack Whittaker also chipping in a direct hit run-out. 5 wickets down,
including 3 run outs, and just 14 on the board.
From here it was
always uphill for Somerset and when Butler knocked over a dangerous looking
Ollie Heard in the 11th over, Somerset were 15/6.
Rather like
Devon, Somerset obviously batted deep and it was important for the players not
to think the game was won at this point. Standards remained high and very
sensible field setting continued to restrict the scoring. A good partnership of
33 for the 7th wicket gave Somerset some hope, but an ever increasing required
run rate, brought about consistently accurate bowling, made the victory target a
very big ask.
With overs running out, Matt Jeacock came on and
bowled his most consistent spell of the season, taking 2 wickets including a
sharp caught behind by keeper Couch. Pascoe also picked up a deserved wicket
after a probing spell of leg spin, leaving Somerset 9 wickets
down.
After such an excellent fielding display it was fitting that
the final dismissal was another run out - a 4th in the innings - and the
culmination of a well-worked plan. Somerset 74 all out in the 31st over and
victory by 61 runs.
A superb end to a superb season, rounded off by
a BBQ in the evening sun (thank you to the Passenger's and Torquay CC for the
hospitality).
