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Mini bus collected at 8.30am. Nip to Homebase for a tarpaulin, rope etc as really not sure which parents are going to be able to help take the kit. Why did I worry I should have realised the team would pull together! Still picking up players at 11.45am and don’t leave the Devon until about 12.00 noon. Good banter on the way and regular phone calls tell us if the road ahead is clear. Stop for lunch at Michael Wood and stop again just before Kettering. Arrive late but safely and spend 20 mins trying to find where in Oakham the dining room we need is. We drove past it twice.
Rooms all sorted; Todd, Skeems and I conspired that Jack Thomas would have the single room! He was not happy!! Evening meal, then the Organisers’ team talk on what is going to happen, H & S, Code of Conduct, behaviour etc. We have been playing all season and had absolutely no problems. Perhaps that is a problem we should be? We walk to Wilson field to see where we will play Staffordshire. Nice ground, slight slope, slightly exposed and a super pavilion. We walk back and join the other 3 teams on the out field practicing - our’s doesn’t go well. Too relax and it only gets better when it is almost dark the others have gone in and we are practicing slip catching! Dangerous.
Team talk, fines and then bed. It is quiet quite quickly as the players realise the importance of the next day. Up early and first in the breakfast queue. Another chat on how things are going to pan out, match managers introduced etc. Off to Wilson field and we set up. Warm up goes okay but could be better. We lose the toss and Staffs decide to bat. Excellent. Where is Sue - fine -only ball she has missed all season - we did start 5 mins early though! It is overcast and there looks to be rain coming.
Jack and Ollie open, Jack up the hill and into the wind. Ollie strikes in his second over, the first of his three wickets - all bowled; look what happens if you pitch it up and bowl at the stumps - it was swinging too! He then bowled Staff’s captain in the 10th over - 47-2. Jack Thomas meanwhile, as did everyone bowling up the hill into the wind, struggled slightly; even dependable Matt Skeemer who took the third wicket. 48-3, LBW Skeemer. That became 49-4 in the 13th over, which became 52-5 when Ben Green, our U13 debutant, in his first over for the U14s, took a wicket, LBW. The drizzle which had been falling for a little while then turned to rain and after a discussion lunch was taken early with a hope that play would resume at 1.45pm. We started early as it had cleared up and Ben then took the next 3 wickets two bowled and one caught down the leg side
brilliantly one handed diving by Jack Maunder. Staffs 82-8 in the 26th over. Green was unlucky not to get his fifth wicket in the 24th over, Bessy taking off and getting two hands to a very sharp chance in the slips, but it didn’t stick. Get your head up Bessy - forget it. Ollie Dawe was then brought back and he bowled the number 10, again pitched up and at the stumps. 86-9. All the time Ball, who was the one dropped, was batting very sensibly and with the number 11 Hassell they ran quick singles, and hit the odd boundary and gradually accumulated runs. Before you knew it Staffs had somehow got to 152-9 off their 45 overs, a score which they really should not have got, certainly 35 more than they should have. Devon didn’t really field that well and there were unusually 35 extras including 21 wides. Heavy fines tonight then.
The job was very much only half done. We knew Staffs had one good seamer and lots of spinners and they opened with one and used 4. We made a slow but sure start when in the 15th over Skeems, who had again unusually this season played second fiddle to Marcus, was caught. The drinks break or was it some friendly sledging, resulted in Jack Maunder losing Marcus for 33, who got a bottom edge to a spinner and was caught behind. 41-2. Maunder and Dan Powell then batted beautifully and put on the match winning partnership of 50. Quote the Staff’s management “you played our spinners better than anyone else has this season”; however it came to an end and I missed it - just as well. As I walked back into the long room, not that one, Adam greeted me with “you don’t wish to know” and there coming towards me was Jack Maunder, muttering apologies! You are right I didn’t want to know, a reverse sweep, missed it and whoops bowled. Oh dear! Powelly then nicked behind, 122-4. Henry and Seb Ansley then put on 14 before Gates is run out, why? Bessy also gets run out, again needlessly, before Seb and Greeny coolly see Devon home with 3 overs to spare. Devon win by 4 wickets but didn’t we make hard work of it - again!! Ecstatic celebrations follow as we are in the Final…against Lancashire who have beaten Norfolk.
Pack the kit bags, off to tea at 6.35pm, then put our kit bags in the main pavilion. Fines, chats and chips at 9.00pm then swimming. Enjoy it.
Staffordshire 152-9. O Dawe 9-1-25-3; B Green 9-2-19-4. M Skeemer 8-0-25-2. Devon 153-6. M Hoddinott 33, J Maunder 32 and D Powell 36. Devon won by 4 wickets.
ECB County Cup U14s Final
We are all very very disappointed, gutted, we lost the Final but it was a terrific achievement to get there in the first place and to be runners up to Lancashire is absolutely no disgrace. Be proud of what you and the Team achieved. Remember the 2011 season, winning our ECB CC Group and playing in the National Final. Wear your polo shirt with pride. Memories are better than dreams..
Lancashire 200-4. Bess 9-1-25-2. Ansley 7-0-33-2. Devon 78 all out.
Scorecard
Devon Under 14s Runners Up National ECB CC 2011
Our thanks to Oakham School for hosting the Finals, Aaron Campbell ECB, Ken Lake ESCA, Dominic, match referee, the umpires and all involved in making it such an enjoyable occassion. My sincere thanks to all the lads, parents, grand parents and families for all the help and support this season. Sue Ansley for scoring and Rebecca Hoddinott for her assistance with teas, match fees etc. Thank you everyone.
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