Matchday 6 took the Boys to St Just CC, the mostly westerly cricket ground in England, for the first of three games against Cornwall.

The pitch looked a belter and with a correct call of 'heads' by Archie Shawcross, Devon decided to have first dig. With the benefit of a batter-friendly track and a very fast outfield it was important for us to set a challenging target. 

Matthew Whalley and Jack Martin got the innings off to a bang with 20 been taken off the first 2 overs. But this was as good as it got for a while as first Martin was bowled with the score at 20, Arti Evans with the score at 35, Whalley at 36 and Archie Shawcross at 37. So with only 7 overs gone Devon had slumped to 37-4.

Henry Squire (28) batted with maturity and excellent shot selection to build small partnerships with Jules Hughes, James Pugsley and Alfie Mason. When Squire was finally dismissed by a superb 'wrong un' from the left-arm spinner, Devon had reached 87-7. Unfortunately this quickly became 88-8 when Cooper Catley backed up too far and was run out. Devon finally managed to post a below-par score of 124 from 31.4 overs after a 9th wicket partnership of 30 from Mason (16 no) and Tom Hellewell (13).

To defend this total was going to be a tough ask, given that Squire and Whalley were being rested from the Devon bowling attack. Time for some other bowlers to step up and shine. Freddie Wolfgang and Rory Oram-Evenett took the new ball and bowled some good lengths and lines to keep Cornwall to 25-1 off 8 overs. Oran-Evenett striking the early blow with his first wicket for Devon.

That was as about as good as it got as the two Cornwall batters showed great discipline to mix defence with occasional attack to put on a partnership of 113 in 20 overs to take the came away from Devon. There was one final bowling success as Tobias Alsop also claimed his first wicket for Devon when dismissing Cornwall's MoM Findlay Wyatt for a beautifully crafted 63. Cornwall wrapped up a resounding 8-wicket win shortly after. Special mention to Oram-Evenett who finished with figures of 7-3-16-1 after bowling two great spells uphill and against a strong breeze.

Devon MoM was Henry Squire for his excellent batting display in difficult circumstances and his ever enthusiastic fielding and team work.

1-0 to Cornwall in the 'Jam and Cream Derby' series then. Game 2 is on Sunday 22nd July at Bideford CC and Game 3 is at the Kings College Festival in August.

Next up for the Boys is their first home match of the season against the Welsh Regional side Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan at Paignton CC on Sunday 15th July. Hopefully home comforts will return us to winning ways!