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It was not raining at 5.00am as Silas requested an early morning walk that subsequently necessitated a morning appointment at a local Vet’s surgery. It had rained and the police squad car most certainly did slow down. It was not an ideal weather forecast and discussions at Blorenge House suggested the cinema / bowling complex, confirmed by our own Taunton resident. On arrival at the ground the scorer departed for the consultation as it looked bleak. The huge advantage at playing at Taunton Vale is that you know with their excellent ground staff and coverings that play will be more likely than at most grounds. It was to be a rain interrupted first day which makes the final result even more gratifying. Zak Bess, who visited us in the afternoon, had reported that his on going back problem that had stopped him bowling was now affecting the other parts of his game and could now be added to Devon’s growing injury list. Alex Brown, who was standing in before his annual holiday in France the following week, won the toss and batted. This was a wise decision as it gave Devon in a rain affected game control of the allocation of overs. Tom Mitcham and Mike Cousens opened the innings at 11.57am. An hour later lunch was taken and Devon were reasonably placed at 64-1.On six Cousens was disastrously run out for the second time this summer. This was to be his final innings as a week later he too had joined the worrying rapidly increasing injury list. As captain of the West at the Bunbury Under 15 Festival in Cheshire his long term wrist injury was diagnosed as more serious than at first believed. He would need four to six weeks rest. Whose fault the run out might have been does not really matter but it was another waste of an important wicket, something that this side cannot afford. Captain Brown and Mitcham navigated to lunch scoring at fours. Budgets had apparently been imposed on catering to the real disappointment of coach Joe Smith. In the fifth over after lunch Tom Mitcham undid all the hard work he had put in during his seventy-one minutes at the crease with a lame shot resulting in a simple catch to Lintott. At 2.27pm after twenty-nine overs the players came off with the score 93-2 and disappointingly they did not get back on. At 5.00pm we made the short journey to the Blorenge, allowing to coach to return to Tiverton for his club’s crisis meeting (everyone knows they will get promoted). The Anchor was again most welcoming but it is really remarkable what Hot Sticky Toffee Pudding and other desserts can be changed to on the sweets blackboard. The normal culprit from North Devon continued to deny a week later. Craig Eaves decided he would enlist the help of Pavi on his presentation and the West’s captain was given the subject of David English’s pop groups and artists of the sixties. He has subsequently agreed to now attend at Torquay for this presentation. The coach was already back to welcome us home.
No early walks but calculators were busy working out the overs available to Devon and game plans set. It was a much brighter day and despite a very difficult breakfast conversation with one of Somerset’s longest serving supporters, now living in London, all seemed satisfactory. How often do game plans work, this one certainly did not even get started. Devon would be entitled to bat a further forty-nine overs leaving their opponents a minimum of fifty-three. Huxtable fell in the thirty-seventh over and so did Craig Overton, Huxtable was caught behind for a fifty ball thirteen and Craig for a first ball leg before. Huxtable has experienced a brilliant first half of the summer but is now suffering and a rest was offered but declined. Devon was now 109-4 and soon 142-8. Jamie Overton was caught for a two four ten off Lintott, Golding leg before to Mount for 2. Lintott bowled Bryan on 139 and Grainger was caught Mount again off Lintott for one. The sole redeeming feature was the performance of the captain. He was playing beautifully and was undefeated on 44 when he lost his keeper. Harry Booker playing in his first two day game provided Brown with the vital support needed. His obdurate innings was vital for the situation. The pair put on sixty-three runs importantly occupying nearly twenty-two overs and taking in lunch. Brown played one of his most important county innings and eventually succumbed after facing 201 balls in a stay that lasted 4 hours 21 minutes. His fifty had come up two minutes under the three hours. It had been an exceptional performance, one that deserved three figures but he was out twelve short. He had hit five fours and a six and his partnership with Booker had set his side up. In his captains company Booker had been gaining in confidence that needed a bottle of water to leave the stroke play to Brown! His contribution can not be underestimated; he ended undefeated on 24 off 82 balls in 85 minutes. Craig Eaves ensured that Devon’s full quota of overs were utilised as Devon ended on 216-9. As they had not passed the two hundred in 50% of the overs available they had only picked up one batting point but it had been a splendid recovery.
After 30 overs Somerset were 91-6, tea had been taken at 44-3. Ellison brilliantly caught by the diving Grainger off Kidd who was bowling from his non preferred end, Brown snapped up Phillips at second slip off Jamie Overton, and the key wicket of Lintott was bowled Eaves. First over after tea Mount charged Booker to be stumped by Grainger. Forty-seven were added for the fifth wicket when Jenkins, who had a given couple of lives, was caught and bowled Booker. This wicket was not witnessed as invaders were being investigated in the dressing room. On the same score Booker took his second wicket trapping Gabbitass leg before. Rouse and Pittman put on 31 taking Somerset up to 122. Pittman had been dropped badly at mid on and was again missed in the outfield when next weeks captain called but did not reach. It was another major contribution from Booker that removed the dangerous Rouse taking a splendid catch at fine leg off the charged up Jamie Overton. Pittman and Haggett put on an annoying 52 off 46 balls when the same bowler bowled Haggett. Somerset were now 174-8 with 8 overs left needing five and a half’s. With Pittman still at the crease they gamely kept at it but it was Booker who enticed the former Wiltshire player to hit him down Bryan’s throat for a well judged catch in front of the sight screen. This had been a remarkable three sessions of cricket and Devon were now on the verge of what could have been a remarkable win. Brown turned to Huxtable to bowl the penultimate over and third ball he had Carpenter leg before. There is something different about this group and this was a brilliant all round achievement made possible by the two B’s.
One of the Managers most important rules was waived as the mini bus took just three back to Exeter, fortunately the captain kept his music (!) to himself. For future reference this will only apply to games played in Taunton. Fantastic! |
