The end result was not really a surprise but without clutching at straws which sometimes is the result of a heavy defeat there were some real positives from this game. We knew at the last one day cup game that six members of that side would not be available for selection for this first three day game in Devon youth history. Particularly relevant that shirts 2, 3, 4 would not be appearing at Exmouth and all six players were top order batsmen. It was therefore somewhat unfair on the players that did come in but on the plus side two key players Kazi Szymanski and Sam Maunder returned from a long term injury and a very nasty tonsils operation. In fact the game became a two day affair as our visitors had not left the Midlands as the toss was imminent on the first day. From their point of view it all worked out incredabily well as their wall mounted game plan clearly indicated. Jack Gibbs had been bowling at the Pakistan touring side at Taunton Vale, we welcomed two under fourteens Abraham Koppaeambil and Max Hancock both who have been having outstanding seasons and James Bovey came in from the under sixteens along with Tom Oxland who also provided essential keeper cover. The hours of play were amended to try and maximise as much time as possible and one hundred and twenty-six overs were bowled on the first day. Worcestershire called correctly and they had first use of what looked and turned out to be a typical Exmouth road. The Haynes brothers continued where they had left off at Heathcoat in putting on sixty-four in fifty-six minutes off one hundred balls. Gibbs and Szymanski looked a more than useful opening attack but it was the change seamers of Rudolph and Reed who took two vital pre lunch wickets. First James Bovey held a neat catch off the captain to remove the senior Haynes for fifty-three. This wicket fell in the seventeenth and six overs later with his final ball of the over Reed bowled the younger Haynes. The second wicket fell four short of the hundred. Lunch had been delayed until two forty-five and Devon bowled at a decent rate getting in fifty overs. The captain introduced his first spinner in the twenty-fifth over and debutant under 14 Max Hancock had his first under 17 bowl in the thirty-sixth. He removed Connor Dudley, over from Australia for the summer with a British passport, with the first ball of his third over courtesy of a catch from Harry Ward. Four balls later the family mobile was again in action as he trapped Brandick in front. The visitors were now 197- 4. Their fifth wicket fell in the forty-sixth over with Kasi Szymanski taking the catch off Matt Petherbridge. The Torquay left armer was taking the opportunity of his first decent spell of the summer and it was really pleasing to see him getting back in the groove. Lunch was taken on 229-5 which appeared to be even-stevens although the visitors gave this session to themselves! Pasta bake went down well and the only blott on the landscape was that our number five shirt and proposed opener Noah Wright had left the ground to be checked over by a Physiotherapist. He did not return until the second day so we were now seven top order batsmen short.
The think tank agreed on seam at the pavilion end and spin at the sea end. This paid an early dividend with that long term partnership of Maunder / Szymanski striking with the second post lunch delivery - 230-6. Devon were competing well, something that it is easier to do in the field and it got better as Max Hancock took his third wicket with the twelfth post lunch ball bowling Ahmed leaving the visitors on 231-7. Unfortunately that was the end of Devon's bowling points haul as Cox and Hammond added the seventy-three Worcestershire needed to gain their fourth and final batting point. Worcestershire immediately declared on 304. Only one Devon bowler went for more than six and they should all be satisfied with their endeavours with Hancock within one ball of a fifteen over debut -3-52 and Petherbridge got in thirteen overs. Devon would now have eighteen overs to tea and sixty-two to close of play. For some reason no one wants to be 50-5 but inwardly this was the unspoken concern of both coach and manager but the end product at close of play showed tremendous character and resolve. This was an exceptionally big ask on Devon's new top order and unsurprisingly against a reasonable attack they struggled. As always the key in this form of cricket is to get though the new ball fairly unscathed. James Bovey fell leg before second ball 0-1, nine balls later Oxland was caught down the leg side by keeper Fitzmaurice 9-2. Perhaps the Budleigh batsman had been unlucky with the decision. It became 27-3 as the keeper held his second catch to take Harry Ward -27-3. This was in the ninth over. Abraham Kooparambil was bowled in the next over - 27-4. The Green Book did not need to be checked as the sides lowest score is etched in the memory it was in the Under 17s first ever game in 1993 at Canford School in Dorset. Sam Maunder added one with his captain when he became Cox's third victim and the first to be bowled 28 -5. Kasi Szymanski and Billy Rudolph responded well to the situation with some positive intent and took Devon past the feared 50-5 to 56-5 at tea. The previous lowest total was passed with a five in the first over after the interval and Devon were at last looking to be moving in the right direction as thirty-eight were added for the sixth wicket but lo and behold this movement was terminated but yet another self inflicted when Szymanski took on Ahmed and the fielders throw stuck the non strikers stumps before the batsmen was in the frame - 66-6. The next three partnerships were equally important ones. The captain was showing his grit and determination and although still overbalancing was displaying all his renowned characteristics. He added forty-two with the under sixteens captain Jack Gibbs taking Devon past three figures. In the fortieth over Gibbs waited for a decision on a caught behind which was not forthcoming so he walked. Hopefully if that is his believe he will in future walk immediately otherwise it creates problems for the umpire. However the really interesting response was that of the fielders who approach walking or more accurately not walking as a tick box on their game plan and they were apparently delighted that in their match review they had a 100% success and received the tick! Enter young Max Hancock. Seventy minutes later at close of play he was still at the crease and Devon had picked up a batting point. He was without doubt one of the straws we have clutched. Rudolph played one of if not the best innings of his county career very much in rearguard mode but at seven thirty he was seventy-three not out and his young partner undefeated on thirteen. The pair had been in no difficulty and had advanced the score to 159 -7. They had put on fifty-one, avoided the follow on and given some real respectability to what had looked like being one of our most serious car crashes. Taking everything into account this had been a really encouraging session - even awarded to us. Some would sleep well.
From experience batting again on the second day can go two ways. A fresh and eager opposition roll over the remaining three batsmen and Devon are in the field inside half an hour. Alternatively Devon continue to fight. Although Worcestershire were batting within seventy-minutes Devon did pick up a second batting point and Billy Rudolph reached three figures. After his executions the previous day Hancock fell first in the fifth over of the day but his partnership of 54 was the highest of the innings and a vital one. Noah Wright now joined Rudolph and added forty-three in eighty-two balls but the fifth ball of the first over with the new ball saw him caught for fourteen. The captain was on ninety-nine. It was now up to Matt Petherbridge to get him to one of the most deserved hundreds at this level. Petherbridge indeed did survive and it was the captain who was the last man to fall for a truly outstanding one hundred and three. He had entered with the score on 27 and departed with it on 212. It had been interesting to learn that the pitch was too flat for a result O ye of little faith.
Devon nearly bowled out Worcestershire which in itself is another of those straws but Worcestershire did bowl out Devon. The adventurous Worcester Captain was the second caught Maunder bowled Szymanski 39-1, Johal took on a Gibbs bouncer to be well held by Harry Ward - right fielder right place. The coach got personally very excited about a bouncer at Exmouth taking a wicket. At lunch Worcestershire were 72-2 one sixty-eight ahead. Baked potatoes with chilli or beans and a divine apple crumble and custard. Petherbridge and Hancock continued after lunch. The pair combined to remove Dudley - 115-3. It was good to have Sam Maunder back in the side with him hopefully improving health wise each day but he caught the dangerous Jack Haynes to give Matt Petherbridge his first wicket. 136-4. Four runs later it was five down as Hancock took his second, bowling Cox. In the thirty-fourth over Petherbridge bowled Smith -155-6. The Torquay left armer then bowled Brandrick and he was looking more like the Petherbridge we need. Maunder now formed a new alliance with Hancock stumping Hammond and catching Finch - 188-9. Another nine were added without loss and Devon were batting again. Hancock - 15-1-60-4; Petherbridge 14-2-54-3
Noah Wright opened with Kopparambil and added thirteen. The outstanding Ivybridge batsman was trapped in front. Nineteen were added by Wright and Bovey and 50-5 were expunged from ones thoughts but Bovey fell caught behind in the eighth over - 32-2 at tea. First ball after tea Wright departed bowled by Finch and from then on it was a sad procession. Oxland bowled 34-4 and Josh Haynes with a variety of balls but most effectively the quicker yorker took seven wickets off thirty-seven deliveries without conceding a run. Ward was stumped leg side the rest bowled. His 7-5 took him immediately to the top of the under 17 bowling charts - a remarkable spell but equally a hugely disappointing one from Devon's viewpoint. Devon had broken the twenty-three year record all out 50.
Another straw had been throughout the game the captain showed real leadership and control on his side which needed the direction he gave them. It is important that Billy realises he is the leader of this side on merit and continues in the confident manner he showed in this game. What has to be determined if Devon wish to contest their place in the top division the external demands on the members of this squad have to be reduced. Phone calls were made and changes had to be made but with no reflection whatsoever on the players not selected, their chance will come. Exmouth were their normal tremendous themselves Devon do not need to reflect on this but do need to learn. We should have been able to bat more than the twenty-eight overs. Worcestershire were deserved winners inside two days but leaving their strategy plan behind was perhaps not the most tactful of gestures!
