The reparative thanks for coming was probably fair with regard Devon’s lack lustre batting performance but slightly disingenuous with regard their bowling and fielding. Devon had restricted their hosts to their lowest total of the summer. Indeed had the visitors taken all the chances it is possible that twenty-five to thirty runs could have been shaved off the final total. The brilliant early season weather had gone and BBC Weather and Rain Today apps started playing a fundamental role once again in our lives. Rain had featured in the forecast since our previous game and for the first time this summer arrived. It was cold and overcast as Rudolph lost his first toss of the season and Devon were in the field for the first time. There had been a preference from some of the team to field so it would be interesting to see how Devon would respond to chasing. There were two short breaks for rain in the Somerset Innings but overall Devon kept to the task of putting on pressure. One fundamental part of such a tactic is not to give batsmen a second chance and this is one area where improvement is still essential. The Somerset openers put on thirty-four in thirty-three minutes. Banton originally from Warwickshire now seeking a career in Somerset was first out caught by Harry Ward to give Joe Hagan-Burt his first wicket. He might have fallen to Jack Gibbs as an edge went between keeper and slip. At drinks the home side were 73-1 as the second pairing put on the home sides highest partnership of the innings as keeper Wells and captain Trenouth put on a decent 68 taking Somerset up to one hundred and two. With his second ball Harry Ward bowled the perpetual motion Trenouth behind his legs. Two key wickets had been taken but more hard work was required. The third wicket partnership scored thirty-eight at less than a run a ball before Matt Petherbridge took his first wicket of the summer trapping Shaw leg before. Petherbridge's paucity of wickets had been a concern so it was very pleasing that one of his most successful wicket takers took his first. After twenty-nine overs Somerset were on one hundred and forty with seven wickets intact and the rain breaks had been completed. Pethebridge struck again in the thirty-third bowling (another good sign) top scorer Wells. Half the home side were out in the thirty-sixth over as Ward held a return catch to remove Chresham. The bowler then proved himself human as he dropped a simple catch off the Torquay left armer but Ward took the next wicket with a catch from Gibbs on the boundary that was taken with consummate ease. Gibbs is an unassuming character and he has fitted in well into the squad. With nine overs remaining Somerset were now fifteen short of two hundred with four wickets in hand. Next over Petherbridge bowled Dunning with the home side still twelve short of two hundred. The two spinners had bowled twenty overs taking six wickets for ninety-eight runs. It was very reassuring for the summer that the pair were back in tandem. Perhaps less than four an over will be the product of the confidence that Matt Petherbridge will have gained from his first proper spell of the summer. Over the remaining five overs Hagan-Burt and Tom Lammonby kept Somerset in check conceding just eighteen runs taking two more wickets - bowled Lammonby and caught Khan bowled Hagan-Burt. It would have made life easier if all the wicket opportunities had been taken but at least at the half way stage Devon were reasonably satisfied with their performance. The Under 12s were also playing at Taunton School and the opportunity, in the break, was taken to watch.
As was demonstrated at Bristol the previous Sunday a good start is vital whether setting or chasing. Before Somerset had completed their tenth over Devon were three down for thirty. Noah Wright was caught driving, Harvey Sargent caught behind and Jamie Khan caught by the captain. To date Tom Lammonby has played the sides central innings and he and Joe Hagan-Burt put on Devon's only meaningful partnership of sixty-two in fifty minutes off eighty-five. It was reassuring that Hagan-Burt was beginning to look like his old self as his all round attributes are vital to the sides success. Eight short of three figures Tom Lammonby walked past a straight one from Dunning for thirty-one. Lammonby is currently the leading scorer in ECB Under 17 cricket and had we had eleven thirty-ones! Hagan Burt continued to look back to his best but he only received support from Sam Maunder as the pair put on twenty-four for the eighth wicket. Ben Phillips was caught behind, the captain gave his opposite number his second catch and Ward was run out. Unfortunately it was another run out the fourth of the summer that ended Hagan-Burts contribution six short of fifty. For years run outs have been used as a personal barometer of the pressure being exerted in the field. In our three games it is currently Opposition 4 Devon 0. This does need attention in building pressure and communication. Maunder was a couple of feet short of a six as the last two wickets added fifteen and Devon were 70 short.. This was a really disappointing batting performance with six batsmen not getting past seven. Having confidence or self believe is something that we all need, without doubt or lack of confidence life would be a very simple affair. One way of getting back your own self believe is to remind yourselves what you can achieve. Four of this side scored big hundreds last year - three against Somerset. Get out there spend some time doing the things you do well, utilise the game against Kings and let us get ready for the new adventure of three day cricket. This was one that got away, we all know we can do better! We can then thank our opponents for coming.
