Invariable on the third day of such a trip you find out more about your players with regard their character, desire and importantly their commitment. Those who have paced themselves sensibly normally shine in the pre match work so it was ominous that this part of our game, hopefully, reached its nadir of the our time together as two senior players were asked to stand aside and give an unbiased opinion. They both agreed the performance was unacceptable. It is not as if standards have not been raised from the start of the winter programme. In harvest time the three days in the Midlands would help sort out the wheat from the chaff.
Matt Wood had selected a side of EPP and Academy players ranging from an eleven year old leg spinner to George Gibbs mate from the previous day who was captaining. The captain called incorrectly and Notts would bat. Another benefit of games like this is that the opposition put into practice what is preached by Devon as the right approach to the longer and shorter versions of the game. Having witnessed it at close hand it is important the players store it for future implementation. Notts scored three hundred and thirty three runs, one player reached one hundred and forty-six, two in the forties. There were two century partnerships - 106 and 132 and one of 48. They bowled Devon out - three batsmen bowled, two leg befores, two catches, a run out and a stumping. It was fortunate they did not complete the extras tick box as that was Devon's second highest score. Sandy Allen introduced the White Board his summer to try and give clear objectives to each game. Unless the true relevance of these goals are understood it could be a difficult 2017. Each and every member of the side has to fully understand their role in the side and however difficult it is to understand it is the role that we have tried to explain over the summer we need the player to undertake not the role as perceived by the individual. It is essential that the correctly balanced side is in place next June initially for the one day game and then, as is likely, a slightly different three day squad for the Championship programme. Why the 2016 season has been really useful is that from our discussions with the Captain at Cannock we have a good idea now of both squads. However very rarely do they all get through the winter unscathed and there are still at least a couple of external influences which we have no control over so it will be interesting to see who does take the field for our first one day game! The Notts openers put on one hundred and six in ten minutes under the hour off ninety balls. Devon's bowling resources were further reduced by the loos of Jamie Lathwell who was suffering from really severe flu symptoms and his knee was severely restricting his movement and he was unable to bowl. Tom Williams was also suffering although we did not know the full extent until we reached Exeter. It was brave of him to try and fight his difficulties for the sides benefit. Leon Horn struck in the fifteenth over trapping the captain Parker-Cole in front. The second wicket added forty-eight off sixty balls when a catch by Jack Gibbs gave Horn his second wicket in the twenty-fifth over. Notts at the halfway stage very comfortably placed on 154-2. Their top order continued to fully demonstrate their role - scoring runs at a decent tempo with a partnership now of one hundred and thirty-two in the same time span as the openers off one hundred and four balls. Evison, an outstanding batsmen, was now approaching his one hundred and fifty when Will Oxland struck in his second over, his sides forty-second. Leon Horn held the important catch. Evison had faced one hundred and twenty-four balls in scoring 146. Blatherwick fell next ball caught by Adam Creasey who made a simple two handed catch into a stunning one hander. It was not the second hat trick of the season but it was encouraging that Will Oxland who had played an important part in our fielding sides this year got his just reward with deserved wickets. Notts were now fourteen short of three hundred with fifty balls left. They added another forty-seven with Causey taking two wickets. Three Three Three would be a record one day chase and 6.66 an over a target over fifty overs only bettered once by the seventeens who one occasion scored at 6.82 but that was setting not chasing! The obvious suggestion was just use this opportunity as batting practise.
This is what the openers, Abrahams and Horn, achieved as they put on eighty-four off one hundred and sixteen balls. Horn went first in the eighteenth over and the first ball after drinks! The under 12 leg spinner Ahmed was on and although his googly was causing confusion it was being read by the coach in the comfort of the pavilion. He ended with the more than useful figures of 10-1-41-3. Ben Abrahams was stumped off Ahmed for twenty-seven four less than his opening partner. Once again Devon had not built on a decent opening partnership add on two from 84-0 they were now 84-2. Lathwell was now fit enough to bat, a Biblical transformation, and put on twenty-nine with the equally under the weather Williams. Devon were now on 113 when Williams the second leg before victim for seven. Tom Oxland hit two fours in his partnership of thirteen. Oxland had undertaken his duties all summer in a determined manner and the County have been very fortunate to be able to call on his keeping services this summer. Jack Gibbs and Jamie Lathwell put on sixteen and Lathwell and Will Oxland added ten. Oxland was bowled in the thirty-fifth over and Devon were on one hundred and fifty-two with six down. Lathwell was on thirty-eight. Enter George Gibbs and the pair proceeded to put on the second county age group century partnership against Nottinghamshire. The first was between David Lye and John Cruft in the nineteen's semi-final victory at Worksop College in 1998. This partnership demonstrated superbly the importance of guts and determination. Whereas Lathwell was playing with complete freedom of movement batting splendidly it was actually all made possible by the stubbiness of Gibbs. Their reward is their partnership of exactly one hundred now enters the records of Devon County Age Group Cricket. The partnership just evolved with not a little early mirth. In reality this was one of the highlights of the summer as Gibbs confidence grew so did Devon's total. Lathwell was playing the shots, some exceptional but Gibbs was occupying the crease, critically at both ends the strikers and non strikers. If the message did not get home that partnerships require at least two people to contribute the North Devon duo were a brilliant example of a real partnership. Again it was a case of one hundred and out as Gibbs was run out for a forty-one ball twenty which took up fifty-six minutes and included two fours. Lathwell had contributed fifty-five and extras twenty-five, never underestimate the value of extras. The applause George Gibbs received was genuine and well deserved. Lathwell was on ninety-three but without individual scores available on the board. To tell or not to tell that is the question. The coach decided not was the answer. He had fourteen balls left in the game and his current scoring rate should surely get him home. However he was told and on ninety-eight patted back the simplest of caught and bowled. Huge disappointment all round not least from the picture framer as only two would be required this year as opposed to last year's six. This fact alone clearly demonstrates the difference with this year's seventeens who scored another five hundreds this summer. Next year some of the fifteens and fourteens will have to stand up and deliver tons. Lathwell had faced one hundred and three balls, nelson in minutes and he hit fourteen fours and two sixes. With Devon only again batting ten it would be good if they at least could hold out. They did not as Creasey hit a four and a towering six only to miss the next one and Devon were all out off the penultimate ball fifty-five short which not really indicates the difference between the two sides. Devon were a tired group who returned home but the traffic had eased and it was a reasonable return journey. Pizza's closed so Harry Ramsden, Kentucky and Burgers The Captains First Class career was to continue the next day as every Holiday Inn in Taunton was visited!. For some a deserved rest and conclusion to their summer to give opportunities to others.
