Deggy’s Day Out in Oxfordshire!
A very early start, 6.00AM and then an 180 mile drive (3hour 40mins!) to Bloxham School via Gloucester Services,(I recommend them), Stow on the Wold main street and some lovely Cotswold villages. We arrive tired but the sun is shining and the ground which slopes looks very pretty. The grounds man, who did not know about the match until the morning, was busy preparing the pitch and gave us some useful information about it. The damp but slightly crusty top and journey suggested to Nick and I that we should bowl first and after a really good warm up, the best of the season - much more energy, JOG won the toss, and we put Oxfordshire in. Sam Agnew made his debut to cover for James Doble (and keeper cover too) who was very unfortunately unable to play!
Kersley’s first and only over is best forgotten Kers as the slope didn’t aid his action and he struggled to gain control. One delivery he did get right kicked and beat the bat and showed what would happen if we bowled in the right areas. JOG first over was good until the last ball and Oxfordshire got off to the start we really did not want, 16-0 off 2! However Elliott replaced Kers and with JOG and fielding more reminiscent of the 2015 season the team gradually showed great character and pulled things back. In the 7th over Elliott bowling down the hill got one to lift and Saps took a good sharp catch at about 4th/ 5th slip not really gulley above his head to dismiss Mase. 30-1. Six overs later Els and Saps gave us a repeat performance to dismiss Price, Oxfordshire finding it hard to score runs, 38-2 off 13 overs. Sam Woodcock and James Degg came onto bowl and the ball spun and occasionally lifted both sharply. Woody should have had a wicket but… stay down/ lower at slip Saps! Batting wasn’t going to be easy, perhaps easier later on if it dried out?! Who knows?? In the 19th over Tayls took the first of his two great sharp stumping, great hands Tayls, off Degg to dismiss Elliot, 56-3. Carps replaced Woody and immediately he had success taking a stunning return diving catch to get rid of Miller. 71-4 off 22. 2 runs later Carps bowled Shaw top of off stump and five runs later Deggy and Tayls combined again. Oxfordshire 78-6 off 25 overs and struggling to play spin. Carps then got the patient Tait to edge to Tayls and Deggy and Woody combined for the first of their two dismisles, Woody at short mid wicket, taking two sharp low catches; Oxfordshire 85-9 off 29 overs. We really should have finished things off but the tail then wagged and a catch went missing before Carps got his 4th wicket caught Els at short mid off. Oxfordshire 107 all out; it should have been 70-80 all out lads and you knew it! Anyway that was our best performance in the field for ages and showed what you are capable of doing and should do every match! You have set the standard lads so let’s get even better. Both Carps and Deggy bowled really well and Deggy should have had his five for! Good to see you both back in such form lads!
After tea and a chat, we know we bat all the way to 12, so if we do lose any quick wickets there is no need to panic, play straight, take singles, rotate the strike, run hard, maidens will not matter, don’t be afraid to leave balls and the bad balls will then come and then put it away. We had a revise batting order as close as we could make it to what the lads wanted to have, except the majority could not bat 6-9!! Deggy and Carps opened after a short dispute about who was facing first , Carps is bigger, so it was Deggy who played out a maiden. Carps then didn’t move this feet, you needed to get forward on the track with soft hands and was bowled first ball of the second over! 0-1!! Perhaps you should have faced the first ball? Max joined Deggy and was watchful, play a lovely cover drive then unfortunately losely drove to a wideish one and was caught 6-2 off 5 overs!! Tayls again played sensibly before one popped a little and as he tried to play across the line, play straight, he spooned a catch into the off side 21-3 off 8 overs; things were not going to plan. Time to stop nervously walking around the pitch and sit down rather change places with Nick as he was with the lads. So entered debutant Sam Agnew to join his Plympton buddy, guess on your debut Sam that it was good to join someone you knew so well, and together they calmly went about rebuilding things. Not taking any risks, plenty of leaves and dot balls, taking the singles, running hard and hitting the occasion 4. Oxfordshire eventually brought on their, (is that better Derek) spinners which slowed things a little but Devon had time on their hands as if it had to be it was always only 2 an over. On 78 in the 28th over when there was some hope Deggy and Aggers might see us home Sam played Price’s spin with firm hands and gave short mid off catching practice. You had to feel for him out for 19 but it was the dogged 57 partnership which was the key to the team's win. Well done young man great character. Bryon joined Deggy and he proceeded to smash the Oxfordshire bowlers including one huge straight six and in 12 balls the match was over, Devon winning by 6 wickets with 19.3 overs to spare. Deggy who had batted with much concentration, mind that cut shot/ Deggy dab, James, stranded on 45 not out - Byron you spoil sport!
A good win lads; outstanding fielding/ catching backed by good bowling and sensible low risk, most of the time, batting! Great for the confindece lads but stay grounded. Now for the long trip home via Gloucestershire Services again for some food – back home 8.45PM – just as well we didn’t play those other 32 overs!!
Thank you to Oxfordshire for hosting us, the umpires and Bloxham School. Thank you Wendy and Derek for scoring and all the parents/ guardians, relatives, friends etc for your support. I hope you had an uneventful quiet (sleeping lads) journey home. It would have been nice to sleep!! SCORECARD
