The access to Axminster has changed over the past twelve month and is now through the new housing development and it did create some problems but interestingly the first two at the ground came from North Devon and deepest South Devon who were both present well in advance of the 10.00am pre match start time. Even a suggestion in the dressing room that it was ten past ten did not spark a response for another seven minutes as the players eventually ambled out. This had been totally unexpected although the coach pointed out that Proms had been held the previous night. Of the selected side nine had previously represented either the sixteens or seventeens so they should have known what was expected. This was the worst pre match preparation in a quarter of a century, players returned to the dressing room after throw downs to text and rest up. The actual throw downs would have disappointed a club under 13 side serving no useful purpose and there was a total lack of energy and equally important desire to warm up even one questioned the curtailment of the football - quite an extraordinary approach from players who will shortly be playing for a place in the squad. It was reassuring that at least one of the team did actually want to play for the county this summer. In Axminster itself the road network had been closed and traffic had come to a halt at noon as Police were seizing a substantial amount of cannabis from the former Axe Vale Social Club in Chard Street and as there was an extensive amount of equipment and plants to be removed from the property, which spread over three floors, this took some time.
Leon Horn lost his first toss but got his way as his side were inserted. Jamie Khan and Ashley Causey opened. Second ball Khan spooned up a simple catch 0-1. Ben Abrahams fresh from a hospital visit joined Causey and the pair batted well together putting on seventy-one. The Bovey first teamer departed off the second ball of the seventeenth over leg before after scoring twenty-nine, Abrahams contribution to the stand had been two less. At one stage the score had been forty-two for one at the end of the eleventh over - both batsman had scored 14 which was also the number of extras - a first for the scorer who had got very excited. Under 15 keeper batsmen Sam Taylor, on debut, was bowled first ball, a disappointing start for the Bovey player but his chance will come again. After sixteen and a half overs Devon were 71-3 with a lot of ground still to make up. They had been scoring at just under fours. Ben Abraham who was again taking his chance with the bat was now joined by the captain and the pair put on eighty-eight off nineteen overs increasing the rate. After thirty-five overs Devon lost their fourth wicket when the captain was run out. It got even worse seven balls later young Louis Morrison was run out in a very similar undesirable manner. This was perhaps the tenth Devon run out of the summer and we have yet to achieve one. The inability to communicate is a critical flaw that should not be a problem at this level. To lose two important batsmen in this way within such a short time is simply unacceptable. To his credit Abrahams did his best to make up for these two errors and he was now six runs past his fifty with Devon five down with one six one on the board. Tom Williams, on his first appearance, then joined Abrahams scoring fifteen in a partnership of twenty-nine and demonstrating his importance to the side as an all-rounder. He fell in the forty-first over. Once again the minimum partnership of ten went by the board as on the same score Abrahams was bowled for seventy-nine. He had batted for one hundred and forty-five minutes facing one hundred and thirty-one balls. He should have been eying up the first under 16 century of the summer and realistically he should have taken this opportunity to score a maiden county ton. He did however make an important contribution. Fortunately Jamie Lathwell looked in sublime form as the left hander scored at a strike rate of 113.79 the best of the innings. He stroked five fours in his undefeated thirty-three in his unbeaten partnership of fifty-two off fifty-six deliverers with Ben Hayes. The pair seemed to become confused as to how the side were going to achieve their targets as they sometimes tried too hard to smite the ball whereas a more subtle approach would have resulted in a lot more than a run a ball which would have set a target of 260 plus. However the final product of 242 was acceptable but perhaps par.
Pasta Bolognese and fruit salad and cream was well received and Devon prepared to defend the just under five an over required. Sandy Allen had watched our opponents the previous day and was aware of their danger men. Lathwell and Adam Creasey opened up both going for less than five but the pressure was taken off the batsmen by wides. Two an over from the pavilion end which is an area that needs major attention. In all seventeen wides were bowled nearly three extra overs. Chris Yabsley on his first appearance of the summer, although he has been playing regular league cricket, entered the attack bowling economically often from around the wicket. He took three wickets in his ten over spell. It was Ben Hayes who took the first wicket in the thirteenth over and this was thanks to the first of Tom Williams fine three catches. It was Sam Taylor, who fielded well throughout the game, who took the second catch of the innings again of Ben Hayes. After twenty overs the School were 81-2. The dangerous visitors captain, Harris, was the next to fall caught by the Sandford all-rounder off Yabsley. At the half way stage they were four down four short of the hundred. Nelson struck in the twenty-eighth over when Yabsley bowled the keeper batsman Willis. Horn was utilising his varied spin attack well. With Williams now bowling from the town end twenty-six were added for the sixth wicket when Williams took his wicket thanks to a catch from Jamie Khan. The openers had put on fifty-eight but the second highest partnership of the visitors innings was the fifty-five that Kaye and Rasakulasuriar contributed for the seventh wicket in thirty minutes off sixty-five deliveries. Ben Abrahams now struck in the forty-fourth over bowling Kaye for thirty. Devon were fielding to a very high standard with Ashley Causey exceptional patrolling the furthest boundary. The final three wickets added twenty-eight off four overs and although a couple of stumping opportunities were not taken the side should be generally pleased with their performance in the field. Morison made amends stumping Lawrence to give Abrahams his second wicket, The captain's catch gave Hayes his third wicket and Jamie Khan's second catch was Ben Abrahams third victim. The visitors were twenty-two short with fifteen balls unused so ended a close encounter.
Leon Horn received deserved plaudits for the manner he managed his side. Devon must learn the importance of discipline and standards before they embark on the next part of their education. Axminster were splendid their outstanding Chairman Peter Kiy omnipresent.
