The side knew what they required to achieve in their final game of the summer and that was to pick up a minimum of twelve points from their match against already crowned champions Somerset. These points could take them to second place in the division. Although Sunday was another fine summers day the forecast for the three days was for heavy rain on the first day, light rain on the second and heavy cloud on the third so the optimism was low for a full game. A really nasty crash on the A38 involving two visits from the Devon Air Ambulance delayed one car but the team arrived in good time at the Blorengh House only to meet up with the truly delightful Mahela Jayawardene and his family. The radar for the first day of prolonged rain from around 11.00am was confirmed by regional weather forecasts and local entertainment checked. We had been only rained off in Somerset on one previous occasion but this looked like a more serious stoppage. Warm ups were completed and Devon won the toss and invited Somerset to bat. Kasi Szymanski duly removed Wells second ball neatly caught at slip by Sargent. This brought the home sides prolific captain to the crease and Trenouth and Banton batted the remaining forty-six balls scoring twenty-five before the radar was proved to be accurate. Devon had made life difficult for the home side. It rained with very brief intervals long into the night and although lunch was taken the days play was abandoned shortly before tea which was also taken. Darts, table tennis and later in the day ten pin bowling occupied the day but it was becoming a rather sad anticlimactic end to the season. On the second day Devon left the Blorengh House later than normal as rain was still around and they were greeted with the news that the second days play had also been abandoned which surprised very few. Devon lost James Bovey who returned home unwell The football pitch was made available, more table tennis and they were successful with their second lunch venue attempt. They then sat back to watch Jason Bourne. In fact the very last touring party to the Isle of White had watched one of the early films in the Bourne series but in truth that did not help at all. It was action packed and the good guys came out on top! We went to the Skylark for the last evening meal together and a convivial evening was had.
Rooms were left tidy and this would be the last time that this group of players would play together, unless they accept an invitation from the Kingsbridge President in 2020 if of course he makes it to then. In fact they produced an outstanding last day together. Somerset had already booked Taunton Vale to play Surrey in both the one day and three day semi-finals both against Surrey. They are the stand out team of the division so Devon should be delighted with their own on the field performance. It did not start well the former Barnt Green member Banton was dropped at second slip second ball from Szymanski but twenty-four balls later the batsman nicked it again and Joe Hagan-Burt held it at second - 37-2. The third wicket pair of Trenouth and Shaw put on seventy-nine off one hundred and five deliveries in a minute under the hour. It was the captain that was well caught by the standing up Maunder off the deserving Oli Reed. It was brilliant that this underrated, but important member of the side, took the key wicket of the day. It was apparent that there is little love lost between some of the Devon and Somerset players which is disappointing but his dismissal was greeted with universal delight within the side, it was a critical wicket in Devon's plans. Somerset were now 116-3 off twenty-nine over's. Although Hagan-Burt ran out Dunning it was leg spinner Harry-Ward who took four of the next five to fall. Clist was held by his Paignton colleague Wright, his long term friend Petherbridge caught Scriven. Shaw who was nine short of a fifty was another excellent caught behind. All Sam Maunder has to do now is smile in the team photographs, he can work on that. It was good to meet up again with brother Jack who is now fortunately over his nasty hand injury. The captain fittingly held the final catch of the summer to remove Eminson. Wards final figures were an important 10-1-38-4. Kasi Szymanski who had taken the first two wickets came back to remove the final two Walsh bowled and Gore leg before. Four points picked up as Rudolph had kept his nerve in the post lunch session when the home side went after the Devon bowlers to set up a chase. They were all out 212 with Szymanski figures an equally impressive 12-3-35-4.
It was clearly obvious who were the home sides targets and that apparentlyfrom the calls that Joe Gore was their main weapon. In fact it was Walsh who should have made the initial breakthrough as he had Wright caught in the gulley but it was a no ball. Devon were then on three. Harvey Sargent was obviously in one of his most stubborn moods and ultimately it was essential he was as he batted beautifully reaching a chanceless hundred. He and Wright put on a vital fifty-nine in forty-four minutes off sixty-five balls when Joe Gore had Wright caught by Clist this time not off a no ball. Another of Somerset's targets arrived at the crease but the Umpires had earlier intervened but that perhaps did not stop the odd aside. From 15-all it became 30-15 to the home side as Gore removed Hagan Burt caught by Wells. It quickly became 40-15 when the captain brought out his cut to be caught by Shaw, he perhaps needs to review or modify this shot - perhaps hit it harder! Harry Wards important contribution to the season ended with Devon three short of three figures. However Sargent was on top of the situation batting beautifully and was joined by Ben Phillips whose retirement from county cricket was fortunately one of the shorter. It was totally to Devon's benefit and fitting he should end his county age group cricket in an outstanding and essential partnership of one hundred and thirty-six. The pair picked up two important batting point 40-30 and Sargent passed his first county hundred of the summer and sadly his last. He has been a pleasure to have been involved with since his debut as an under 14 with the sixteens. He faced one hundred and forty-eight balls hitting fifteen fours in his important 103. Ben Phillips contribution had been equally important and Devon were now deuce. Devon reached the third batting point in the fifty-fourth over Phillips was then caught by Scriven off the fifth ball of the same over for a terrific ninety-five ball seventy-nine - nine fours and a six. Devon has accomplished all their objectives most of Sandy Allen's boxes were ticked and Rudolph as his final act called his side in - advantage Devon. They had played outstandingly and did end up runners up which after the disasters at Exmouth were a major achievement. Somerset were genuinely wished success in their two semi-finals.
