Devon under nineteens began their 2013 season against Exeter University at a very cold and blustery Exeter Cricket Club. Exeter University won the toss and elected to bat. Devon opened the bowling with Ollie Sale and Craig Eaves and restricted the University to thirty three off the first ten overs, it could have been better for the Devon side had a chance been taken at slip and a couple of sloppy miss fields. Curtis and Leith batted patiently for the University and frustrated Devon until the twenty third over when a mix up between to the two batsmen resulted in Leith being run out for forty six. After the run out Dominic Bess was introduced to the attack and bowled an excellent spell, into the wind, conceding only twenty-five from his ten overs. He picked up the wicket of Laidman for seven caught by wicket keeper Dan Powell. Curtis meanwhile, after his early let off, moved on to his fifty. He was eventually out caught behind off George Yates for seventy four. In the last ten overs, with wickets in hand, Exeter tried to accelerate but good bowling by Yates and Sale at the end of the innings restricted the University to 207 off their fifty overs. Devon stuck to their task well in poor condition but would be disappointed to have conceded forty one extras.

Devon had the worst possible start losing both Declan Lines and Eaves bowled by the University Captain Barr and slipping to eight for two. Devon’s captain, Josh Mailling, watching from the other end was then joined by last years under seventeens player of the year, Sam Wyatt-Haines, to set about rebuilding the innings. Wyatt-Haines was dropped first ball from a rising delivery from Barr, but then proceeded to play with fluency driving consecutive fours and taking thirteen of Barr’s sixth over. Mailling looked very composed puling and clipping the ball off his legs until trying to work the ball into the leg side was LBW to Leith for thirty. The partnership was worth 55 and brought Dan Powell to the crease. Devon continued to work the ball and maintain a run rate of 3.5 an over, with the partnership on 26 Powell was also out leg before being hit on the foot from an in swinging yorker by Prowse. Ollie Sale joined Wyatt Haines who pulled Prowse for six to bring up his 50 off 72 balls. He then tried to repeat the shot and was caught at deep square leg off Barton. Devon continued to chip away at the University score but when Sale was out for 22 Devon were struggling at 149 for 7. Needing six an over off the last ten overs, enter Hallam Kerton who in partnership with Bess and then Paul Heard took the game down to Devon needing ten off the last two overs. Kerton was bowled off the first ball of the penultimate over for an entertaining 27 off twenty nine deliveries. Jamie Stephens joined Heard needing 10 off 11 balls and they nudged and nicked their way towards the target. Needing one run off the last two balls, it appeared Devon had done all the hard work but the confusion in trying to scamper the winning run resulted in Heard being run out for 11. Match tied. Great character and attitude was shown by a young under nineteens side and bodes well for the rest of the season.

   Overall this was a fair result and credit has to go both sides providing such an entertaining and competitive game in brutally cold conditions. As always huge appreciation must to go to Exeter Cricket Club who were, as ever, fantastic hosts and produced a great pitch for the first week of April.