There were a number of changes in fortune and fluctuations in the second home three day match of the season against Hampshire at Sandford. It was disappointing that it had not been possible to set up a second innings chase but being inserted, despite having declared to try and keep the game moving, then being over two hundred runs behind on first innings it made life difficult for the home side as there was no real benefit after batting for over six and a half hours to save the game to give it all up with a sporting declaration. The forecast, as tends to be the case now, was for light rain over all three days and spasmodically it did rain but not creating any major problems unless you listen to the Devon bowlers. On losing the toss Devon were inserted and within eight balls were one down as Wrights own fluctuating season continued. For a player with such potential he must be very disapointed that he has in twelve innings only passed fifty once and that was in the last game. He is currently averaging less than 20. James Bovey fresh from success with the sixteen's came in at three but he also departed out on the second ball he received - Devon were now 7-2 and on the back foot. Fortunately Harvey Sargent, fresh from another big league hundred and Joe Hagan-Burt added one hundred and forty-four at a cracking rate off one hundred and seventy-one balls in just ninety-eight minutes. However Devon lost two more wickets before the lunch interval. In the thirtieth over Sargent was caught off Gwynne who was to take the next three wickets. Sargent appeared on target for his first county hundred of the summer. In fact he ended thirty-eight short which was disappointing. His partner fell four overs later with under 14 Middleton taking the catch. Hagan-Burt was twenty-seven short of three figures. Lunch, roast chicken and trifle, was taken after thirty-nine overs with Devon on 164-4. Harry Ward was Gwynne's third wicket bowled eleventh ball after lunch Devon's position deteriorated further in the forty-first over when Kasi Szymanski was leg before again to Gwynne - Devon 182-6 and it looked the right decision to insert in overcast conditions but on a flat one. Under sixteen Tom Williams joined his captain and the pair almost secured the second and third batting points adding sixty-three in fifty-two minutes off one hundred and thirty-six balls. Five short of the third batting point Williams was dismmissed in the sixty-seventh over caught by the captain, Scriven, off Searle. It was the home sides captain who fell one run later in the next over. Rudolph had again batted determinedly but was Searle's second wicket caught by Gadd. Gibbs and Maunder secured the third batting point and Rudolph called his side in. This nearly proved to be one of Devon's best declarations as within seven minutes Devon had removed both openers - Mead caught behind off Szymanski 0-1 and Samuel leg before off Gibbs a tremendous start 2-2. At tea Hampshire were 45-2 off thirteen overs. It would have been almost the perfect declaration if Scriven had been caught behind off Rudolph in his thirties as he went on to score 288 the highest individual score against a Devon youth side. Hampshire reached close of play on 184-2 with under fourteen Middleton, son of Tony, on fifty-three and Scriven on one hundred and nineteen. They had recovered their sides position well. Devon had lost their way in the final session where there had been a short break for rain. Devon had bowled forty-five overs and Hampshire had scored at fours. As always Sandford were ahead of the game, prepared for every eventuality and hosting superbly. It was good to catch up with some old friends and in particular Devon Under 16 and 17s first coach - David Gibson. He gave the writer a pep talk, something his brother had delivered with success in 2010 but we are now six summers on.
It was vital that Devon performed well in the first session of the second day and they did. By lunch Hampshire were 283-5. On the final ball of the first over Szymanski removed Middleton, leg before - 187-3. The pair had put on one hundred and eighty-five and completed the sides recovery from a difficult start. Thirty-seven were added for the fourth wicket when James Bovey swooped at mid wicket to run out Gadd. Matt Petherbridge took his only wicket in his ninth over trapping Gwynne in front. Post lunch, pork casserole and a fruity cheesecake it was a Szymanski maiden and first ball of Jack Gibbs a stump was sent backwards - 283-6. Scriven was fifteen short of his two hundred. Thoughts on a declaration when all batting points were secured and the captain past his two hundred entered discussions but in fact Hampshire decided on the option to bat the home side out of the game and then roll them over. Such an approach usually reduces options particularly the chances of the home side winning. The visitors were helped by a really disappointing afternoon session when the skipper had real problems gaining any control. In fairness over the years our spinners have been able to exert such pressure by bowling consistently. Apart from at Great Rissingington this has not been the case. It did not help that Tom Williams was unwell with a migraine. At four minutes past four Billy Rudolph repeated his Clifton College catch this time at long off to remove Scriven for an exceptional two hundred and eighty-eight and although not noticed by the scorers this was Hampshire's tenth wicket. This catch gave James Bovey his first under 17 wicket. Devon had to wait a further eighty-three minutes for their second post lunch wicket and watch one hundred and forty-three runs added for the seventh wicket when the captain who was as always leading from the front had Holly caught by Oli Reed, four runs later Rudolph bowled Pardoe 430-8, then trapped Searle in front 454-9 and then caught his opposite number with 459 on the board.
Tea was taken and Sandy Allen clearly stated what Devon had to do bat for four sessions and then shake hands with their opponents. He put it across brilliantly and to the players credit they then applied it to the letter!! Devon reached close of play on 118-2, Wright was bowled by Searle for 17 and Harvey Sargent was caught at slip off Organ's first ball for thirty. Hagan-Burt and Bovey took Devon up to close of play on a track that has seen little sunshine but was playing beautifully. The next day the pair completed a partnership of one hundred and forty-two playing exceptionally well and appearing in no difficulty. Bovey was caught for hid maiden under 17 fifty and will now need to build on these foundations over the next thirteen months. Joe Hagan -Burt and Billy Rudolph took Devon up to lunch on two hundred and forty-six for three , thirty-nine ahead. The new ball was taken post lunch, Lasagne and crumble, and the pair batted through it when in its eleventh over to everyone's surprise Hagan-Burt departed. He had reached one hundred and seventeen hitting thirteen fours and a six and the pair had put on nine short of a hundred. Devon were at two thirty- seventy-eight ahead as Harry Ward joined Rudolph. The pair added one hundred and fifty-two in one hundred and two minutes off two hundred and ten balls. Ward contributed seventy-nine, a county best and Rudolph sixty-four. They took in tea - one hundred and fifty-nine ahead with Ward on thirty-six and Rudolph on eighty-one. Post tea it was all Ward as he almost caught up his partner. The real sadness and frustration is that he got within twenty-one of a maiden hundred but got out. One hopes he gets another opportunity at Taunton Vale but the weather forecast does not look helpful. Rudolph did reach his second ton of the summer and whisper it he showed disappointment at his leg side dismissal. The Coach had been approached at tea but in reality there really did seem little point making a token effort that perhaps should had come the previous day. Williams and Szymanski added twenty-eight and at five o'clock in the words of the coach hands were shaken. This really had been an outstanding performance with great application and character shown by Devon. The draw is not yet dead the perserverance shown by the Devon batsman showed there are many ways to play cricket and they were simply magnificent.
