Both Devon and Nottinghamshire's under fifteens had reached the quarter-finals of the ECB Cup Competition and this had resulted in a request from Matt Wood to change the proposed two day game against their Academy to two one day games. Notts fielded an older side for their first match and they proved too good for Devon. Unfortunately two of Devon's top order batsmen were unable to bat. Jamie Khan's wrist needed more rest and Ashley Causley's nail was still not right, it later transpired he also had a small fracture. Causley bravely agreed to field and critically bowl. It was a short journey to the Attenborough ground one surrounded for three quarters of its boundary by an impressive brick wall apparently part of a flood defence scheme and courtesy of the Department of the Environment. It was a very warm welcome from the waiting Nottinghamshire Player Pathway Development Manager. It really was good to meet up with Matthew Wood who during his involvement with the County Age Group Programme provided innovation and leadership. It is therefore encouraging that his successor at sixteens and seventeens, Sandy Allen, will be starting his Level IV course in the autumn. The warm up was exceedingly poor on both days and bore no comparison to our opponents. Notts won the toss and batted. Jack Gibbs struck in the fifth over with Lumb, no relation, being caught behind by Tom Oxland - 9-1. The second wicket added sixty-seven one of three partnerships over fifty from the top order. Thirteen overs later Adam Creasey, who took a liking to the bouncier Midland tracks, had Wyatt, from Cornwall, held by one of the sides most reliable catchers, Ben Abrahams, for another fifty and out so it is not just a Devon problem! Seventy-four were added by the third wicket pairing of second Cornishman Gibson and Khan. They completed this partnership in forty-four minutes off eighty-six balls. Gibson was bowled by Leon Horn in the thirty-first over with Notts on 150. Six runs later Hobson was quickly run out by Lathwell. The third top order fifty partnership followed this in just thirty-four minutes as sixty-one balls produced seventy-four runs. Parker-Cole was George Gibbs first county wicket with a catch from the plucky Causey. Apparently the ball before the bowler had voiced his opinion of Parker-Coles batting. The latter indeed also the former are both delightful off the field with the younger Parker-Cole manned the pavilion repeater score board both days. The Notts top scorer, the excellent. Khan fell in the forty-seventh over caught Lathwell bowled Williams sixteen short of a hundred is there something in the name that does not like tons!. Notts were on 239 and their final four batsman needed to score as many runs as possible. They reached 257 with Adam Creasey picking up two a catch from Will Oxland and a leg before and Williams caught and bowled Desai.
Not one catch was dropped, nor were there any opt outs in the home sides fielding practice and Devon were now up against it as fives would be a large ask for this batting line up. So it proved to be as just three batsmen reached double figures and there was only one meaningful partnership - 89 between Horn and Lathwell. Back to basics stuff there were only four partnerships in double figures including the last when some part time bowling was on offer. Thanks mainly to fifty-two extras Devon finished one hundred and five short. One run was scored by the top three, all batting out of position because of the injuries From six for three Horn and Lathwell took Devon up to ninety-five. Lathwell was Gibson's first victim in the thirtieth over for thirty-seven and Horn was his second in the thirty-seventh over for thirty-one - 97-5. Adam Creasey created a potential hat trick - 97-6 the captain survived and went on to score twenty-one. He added fourteen with Will Oxland and then twenty-three with his younger brother, George. Chris Yabsley went to the crease only to be badly let down by his captain's impetuous attitude fortunately not until they had added eighteen off fifteen in eight minutes. Taking everything into account this could have been worse but it was still another difficult day. The last Harvester of the summer was enjoyed and hopefully common sense would prevail and everyone would get in eight hours.
