Devon v Hampshire – Wednesday 30th May – Bishops Waltham CC
Devon opened their 2018 Under 13 season with a fixture against Hampshire on the first leg of their May half term tour to the South East of England. Despite the heavy local rain the ground at Bishops Waltham CC was in exceptionally good condition and great credit and thanks must go to the groundsman and his staff for the work put in.
Having won the toss, skipper Harry Passenger, opted to make best use of a pitch that would prove to get trickier to bat on as it dried out. The early loss of Cam Ford was soon overcome as Lawrence Walker joined Jake Pascoe and the pair added 50 for the 2nd wicket before Walker was out caught on the deep wicket boundary for a well made 34.
This would be the first of four wickets to fall for just 20 runs before Alec Holifield (26) was joined by skipper Passenger (21) and the pair added 45 at a good rate inside 8 overs. Matt Jeacock and Teddy Haffenden batted sensibly through the last few overs, particularly dropping and running, which was pleasing given the work that the squad has put into this area of the game as Devon posted 152-8 from their 40 overs.
The Hampshire reply was soon on the ropes as openers Harry Price and Matt Jeacock reduced the hosts to 18-3, keeper Noah Carlisle and Alec Holifield taking smart catches with Jeacock also knocking over the openers off stump. Only a partnership of 34 for the 4th wicket held Devon up as wickets were shared around, Matt Jeacock, James Tyler and Jacob Kopparambil all picking up 2 each as the Hampshire reply was completed in the 32nd over as they were dismissed for 91 to lose by 61 runs.
A very disciplined bowling and fielding performance following a satisfactory batting effort ensured the Tour and the season got off to a winning start.
Summary.
v Hampshire @ Bishops Waltham CC
on Wed 30th May
Devon 152 - 8 (Lawrence Walker 34, Alec Holifield 26, Harry Passenger 21, Zach Gadsby 8-0-27-3, Ryan Littlewood 8-0-26-3)
Hampshire 91ao (Joe Farnham 23, Tom Cheater 20, Matt Jeacock 5-2-9-2, James Tyler 5-1-13-2, Jacob Kopparambil 3-1-6-2)
Devon won by 61 runs
Devon v Berkshire – Thursday 31st May – Datchet CC
The unpredictable weather that was around in the South East meant a switch of venue for the second game of the tour with the game being switched to Datchet CC. In fact an early cancellation of Friday’s game by Wiltshire required some discussion between the two managers and the grounds man at Datchet and an agreement was reached to play a second game the following day.
Berkshire won the toss and asked Devon to bat first, the early loss of Jake Pascoe caught at the wicket brought Lawrence Walker to the crease to join Jack Whittaker. Between them they added 127 for the 2nd wicket, Whittaker with some clever hitting of gaps and Walker with some clean power hitting, including two straight sixes saw the visitors innings progress to 148 before the fall of Whittaker, caught and bowled off a leading edge for an excellent 52 from 73 balls. Walker would soon follow for a superb 86 which included 9 boundaries and 3 sixes, his 86 coming from 100 balls. Cameron Ford and Alec Holifield were going well, scoring at a run a ball before Ford was run out from a straight drive which the bowler deflected on to the stumps at the non strikers end. After Holifield departed, caught behind for a run a ball 16, Devon were still well placed at 197-7 with a couple of overs to bat. Devon eventually posted 208-9 from their allotted 40 overs. A satisfactory score considering Devon were asked to bat, however from being 164-3 in the 33rd over, the way the side went about advancing the score in the final 8 overs still needs improvement, with perhaps some more thought put into the way the side approached the final overs, losing 6 wickets for only 42 runs meant that Devon posted a good score which in fact ought to be have been an excellent score which would put the game beyond the reach of their hosts.
Harry Pryce and Matt Jeacock once again took the new ball and responded in kind with the pair picking up 3 wickets between them, all clean bowled to reduce Berkshire to 30-3. Ed Butler came into the attack and bowled with real pace and along with an excellent piece of work from skipper Harry Passenger in the field to effect a run out, Berkshire were in deep trouble at 66-6. Berkshire did rally, the fightback led by their captain Ollie Sedgwick who made 39 in quick time but with the aid of the lower order took the score to 177, Jacob Kopparambil with one wicket and Alec Holifield with the final two wickets completing a 31 run victory.
Summary
v Berkshire at Datchet CC
on Thurs 31st May
Devon 208 - 9 (Jack Whittaker 52, Lawrence Walker 86, Qasim Khan 8-0-36-2)
Berkshire 177ao (Christian Taylor 31, Oliver Sedgewick 39, Luke Loveland 23, extras 39 , Harry Pryce 4-0-18-2,
Ed Butler 6-0-26-2, Alec Holifield 2.4-0-14-2)
Devon won by 31 runs
Devon v Berkshire Friday 1st June – Datchet CC
A decision between coaches reversed the toss of the previous day with Berkshire batting first. Ed Butler took the new ball with Harry Pryce, Butler removing two Berkshire batsman in consecutive balls to reduce Berkshire to 3-2. Opener Aaryan Patel and Rhys Lewis set about re-building the innings and added 59 before Lewis was superbly caught by a one handed catch from James Tyler off the bowling of off spinner Dan Alford. Some small partnerships followed with wickets falling at regular intervals as all of the Devon bowlers got some action. A wicket apiece for Harry Passenger, Jacob Kopparambil and Teddy Haffenden. Jack Whittaker completing proceedings by clean bowling opener Patel for a patient 58 to claim his second wicket. Berkshire closed on 156-9 which in reality was probably a little below par.
Openers Jake Pascoe and Cameron Ford set about the reply in good style, a 76 run opening stand in 15 overs got Devon well ahead of the rate. Three wickets fell quickly, Pascoe caught at short extra for 21, Walker stumped for 0 and then Ford, bowled for 37 gave Devon a bit of a wobble as they slumped to 93-3. Ed Butler was joined by Jack Whittaker and normal service was resumed, Butler the aggressor in a stand of 45 which took the visitors to within 20 of victory, Whittaker and Butler fell to catches by the keeper and at point respectively and it was left to Matt Jeacock and Harry Passenger to ease Devon over the line in calm fashion as they completed a comfortable win with 7 overs remaining.
Summary
v Berkshire at Datchet CC
on 1st June
Berkshire 156 - 9 (Aaryan Patel 58, Rhys Lewis 24, extras 33, Ed Butler 4-0-14-2, Jack Whittaker 4-0-17-2)
Devon 159 -5 (Cameron Ford 37, Ed Butler 37, Jake Pascoe 21, John Child 6-1-27-2)
Devon won by 5 wkts
A huge thank you to Ben Passenger and Dom Ford for their help with transport and to Jean and Graham Pascoe together with Chrissie Haffenden for looking after the scoring. Great support from all the travelling parents was a pleasure to see but most of all a very big thank you to all the boys, 3 victories claimed, with some excellent cricket and impeccable behaviour both on and off the field has given the squad a great start to 2018 and they can look forward to facing Gloucestershire at Torquay on Sunday 10th June with great confidence.
