DEVON v SOMERSET
At Clevedon CC on Thursday, 19th June
DEVON 252 for 6 in 50 overs
B Huxtable 118 not out, Z Bess 28, C Eaves 26 not out, C Grainger 22
SOMERSET 133 all out in 38.3 overs
R Skinner 9-0-41-0, C Bryan 4-0-14-0, Z Bess 5-0-20-1, B Huxtable 5.3-2-10-3, C Eaves 5- 0-19-0, W Matthewman 10-3-25-3
DEVON WON BY 119 RUNS
This promised to be a close contest with the winners likely to top the group. As it turned out Devon won convincingly by 119 runs and qualified for the national quarter-finals, having won all four games in their group.
Somerset won the toss and surprisingly chose to bowl first on what looked a good pitch with a fast outfield. Despite losing two wickets for 18 in the first five overs, Devon batted in a very aggressive manner and some spectators queried whether it was a 20/20 match! However, wickets fell and after just 17 overs Devon were 86 for five and a more cautious approach was required for a while. This was provided by Huxtable and Overton with a stand of 30, followed by 44 between Huxtable and Grainger. Huxtable was joined by Eaves at the fall of the eighth wicket and the two ensured a challenging total was set by scoring 85 in the final nine overs.
The innings played by Barney Huxtable (118 not out) was of the highest quality, mixing aggression with caution as the situation required.
Somerset got off to a reasonable start and reached 93 before the third wicket fell in the 21st over. Thereafter some tight bowling and good fielding made scoring runs very difficult, and wickets fell regularly until they were dismissed for 133. Off-spinner Will Matthewman took three for 25 in 10 overs, while Barney Huxtable rounded off an outstanding performance by taking 3-10.
Congratulations to all players who have played in the group games. To win all four matches is an excellent achievement and they are well worth their place in the line-up for the national quarter-finals.