" Brilliant Bowling & Fielding Not Enough At The Batsmen Wilt Under The Pressure" For the fifth day running Devon fielded first on one of the hottest days anyone can remember. The tremendous team spirit culminated in a tremendous display of guts and determination where every player gave their all for their team mates, and Devon.Harry McDowell picked up where he left off the day before and bowled 26 dot balls in his 5 overs and Danny Carroll got an early wicket thanks to Joel Seward's catch. David Wrench then ran out Bishop and Jamie Wyman with a perfect arm ball

which started middle and hit the top of off stump, bowled the dangerous Zafar- What a ball! Followed by a little jig of joy or shock! 47-3 became 65-4 when Seward produced a jaffa to bowl Surry. Iain Crombie bowled a hostile spell that got the Essex followers vocal until Seward took a stunning catch at mid wicket to intercept a full blooded Peter's shot. To ensure maximum bowling points Devon had to bowl Essex out and Essex needed 200 to post a competitive total on a tiny pitch. At 126-5 game on with 10 overs to go. Swash hit some lusty blows before being caught by Wrench, Seward bowled another orange and Crombie got a wicket caught behind by Dan Hardy. Essex are told not to let Devon get their extra bowling point but Chappell is too good and takes the vital scalp. 192 all out.

So it is down to whether Devon can get the runs who wins the Festival- 4 an over will see Devon to victory. Suddenly the prize is right in front of Devon's eyes. 450 overs of intense, high class cricket have come down to the last 50 overs.

After seeing off the opening bowlers, the quickest of the Festival, Gary Chappell takes on the spinners and finds long on. 21-1 soon becomes 23-2 which becomes 23-3 as David Wrench is out first ball. Crombie hits a 4, and then is out. 28-4. Will Murray gets a golden duck. 28-5.It's 34-6 when Danny Carroll is out for 2. Six wickets to the spinners!! Have we heard this before in County cricket? Nerves have got the better of the batsmen and the spinners gave them too much time to think about the enormity of the match. Where as Devon's batting had been positive all season now it was tentative. Dan Hardy hung around to support Charles Martin who had been there from the beginning watching the carnage from the other end.His 56 ball 17 showed alot of courage, skill and mental toughness. McDowell played some nice shots and Wyman scored his first run for Devon- loud cheer! But it was all over- the dream had come to an end- all out 73. ESSEX where the worthy CHAMPIONS. Devon an undeserved 5th.

It was sad to end a brilliant Festival and season in which 13 players gave their all. Not only were there brilliant individual performances there was a TEAM spirit that surely has never been matched, as well as a TEAM that fielded out of their skin every match. The behaviour was also exemplary throughout the week and made the management's job a pleasure. The staff were very proud to be associated with such a great bunch of young men. The players, under Will Murray's captaincy should be exceedingly proud of what they have achieved this season and their parents very proud of their son's performances and conduct throughout.

Played 11. 1 Abandoned. 1 Drawn. 2 Lost. 7 Won.

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