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Devon beat the Isle of Wight and the Rain

Would it be three days running that Devon could avoid the forecasted rain? The forecast for Axminster for the Isle of Wight’s under 21 game was however not showers but persistent rain coming in mid afternoon and the feel of the day with cloud cover was that they might be third day unlucky. With the need to get the game completed (at least twenty overs in the second innings) Jack Porter inserted and his side bowled out the Island with 15 balls to spare. The captain made the initial breakthrough in the eleventh over when he bowled Hatt with the score on 33. It advanced by another 24 when the other opener was superbly run out by a direct hit from Andy Kingdon. Kingdon’s fielding has really improved as a stunning catch later in the innings was to confirm. Devon was now employing left armers at both ends with the Bradninch pair of Ross Acton and Gary Chappell taking control. Chappell picked up Morris (caught Orchard) and Friend (bowled) as the Isle of Wight reached 73-4 off twenty-nine overs. Acton was replaced at the pavilion end by Dan Bowser’s left arm spin and he took the next three wickets to fall with another catch from Orchard, a brilliant diving caught and bowled and a bowled. The last two wickets had fallen on 102 and Brixham’s Joe Hyde had entered the scene, he had already demonstrated the progress he has made on his fielding but it is also evident that his bowling has come along a bundle as with his height he was achieving good bounce and carry. Without an addition to the score he had Taylor caught behind, twenty-nine were added for the ninth wicket when Kingdon took his catch and Bowser (4-22) took his fourth and the final wicket with Yau stumping Hose.

 

There had been moisture in the air for some time and the cloud cover was getting lower it was decided that a charge was needed so Alex Trevarthen was promoted to open with Hardy. They put on 40 in nine when Trevarthen was bowled for an 18 ball 21. Hardy was caught and bowled two balls later and Joe Smith fell with the score on 56. Fifteen of the necessary overs had been bowled with Devon scoring at 3.73 with a rate in excess 2.64 needed. Bowser was bowled at 69, Kingdon struck a 6 ball 12 but was out in the twentieth over with the score on 83. The threat of rain was increasing but the skipper completed his amazing week with the bat being undefeated on 30 as the total was reached with no further mishap on the last ball of the twenty-fifth over. In the difficult circumstances the side had done all they were asked and the prolonged promised rain arrived at 6.05pm just 28 minutes after close. Axminster had been their normal outstanding hosts.

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