- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
South Africa Tour 2013 Update
After a long journey via bus, plane and coach the tour party arrived safely in Kruger National Park Friday evening. The boys in good spirits looked forwards to a first day of training in readiness for todays first game of the tour versus Nelspruit U15s. As ever the hospitality of our hosts here in the Kruger was truly exeptional, with the boys being treated with great kindness and warmth. The boys practiced well all day Saturday under the hot South African sunshine, unfortunately the day ended in famillier circumstances for the Devon boys when the heavens opened and rain poured down at the Skukuza cricket. A rather moist game drive allowed the tour party to see lion and various other smaller animals, an early night had by all to be ready for today!
Game 1 - Nelspruit U15s at Skukuza CC 2 Day Game
After Captain Ben Steer called correctly Devon chose to bat. With the sun beating down, Devon's innings commenced a slow start saw Toby Codd out caught for single figures. This brought Will Thompson to the crease to join Charles Fitzroy together they put on a good stand of 50, but fortunes then changed with Fitzroy out LBW to the new in attack leg spinner. This was then followed up with Will Thompson running down the wicket in the following over and missing a turning off spinner and was stumped for 37. This brought to the crease the partnership of Steer and Green with some clean strikes back past the bowler Green played a little too early and lobbed a catch to extra cover. Devon after the lunch break progressed well with Ben Steer making a well crafted 66 and Dan Pyle making 50 in an aggressive manner. Devon declared on 217 -8 . A superb display of disciplined bowling by the opening bowlers restricted Nelspruit to 30 for 4. The Nelspruit innings stuttered and spluttered to 96 all out with Steer and Green the pick of the bowlers. Devon with the option to make Nelspruit follow on decided otherwise and chose to bat again, and were 4 for 0 at the close of play.
Start of play on day 2 with the openers Filor and Telford at the crease, starting to build a steady platform unfortunately losing both for scores in the mid teens. This brought Green to the crease who was starting to find his feet against the all spin attack of Nelspruit was unlucky to be bowled, when he struck the ball into his leg and rolled back onto his wickets. A small flurry of wickets with Reddick, Huxtable & Barriball all out, saw Devon reduced to 90 for 6 before lunch. After some good bowling Devon lost there remaining wickets after lunch leaving Nelspruit 226 to win the game. A solid start from Nelspruit saw them reach 50 for 1 in the mid afternoon session. This situation was quickly improved when Ben Steer struck twice to make the score 65 for 3 at tea time.
(ABOVE - Toby Codd bowls to the Nelspruit top order in the 2nd innings)
A tough afternoon session for the boys, but there persistence at bowling good lines and lengths came to reward with Steer claiming 5 wickets in the innings there was also wickets for all the spin options used, with Codd claiming 2, and Reddick and Huxtablle one a piece. Devon bowled and fielded as a tight unit and got there reward in the final over of the day with Codd bowling Nelspruits last man. This sealed a comprehensive victory for Devon by 102 runs. Tuesday meant a day of rest for the lads with a fabulous game drive seeing some mating lions and a host of other game. The game drive was followed up with golf for some of the party, the others had an afternoon of relaxing in the hot South African sunshine by the pool.
Game 2 - Uplands School 45 overs a side match
Ben Steer managed to call correctly on a scorching hot day at Skukuza CC. Will Thompson and Dan Pyle opened the Devon innings with Will Thompson chipping a catch to mid off in the second over. This brought the powerful Ben Green to the crease, who rode his luck with some dropped catches, but settled down with Pyle. Pyle pushed on passing his century with collection of 4s and 6s all around the Skukuza ground. A very mature innings finally came to an end when he was given out LBW. This brought Steer to the crease, but unfortunately last games hero didn't have the same affect on the game this time round. This ment Toby Codd joined Green at the wicket, but was given out LBW for single figures. Charlie Barriball and Ben Green put on a century stand with balls disappearing to all parts. Barriball was then caught for 55, Green continued and deposited the Uplands school off spinner into the trees to bring up his century. At the halfway point Devon have set Upland School 322 to win. Devon started in the perfect fashion though, with Goodey taking two wickets in the first over. This set the trend of things to come with Uplands School struggling to fall 199 runs behind the Devon total. Wickets were shared around by the Devon bowlers with Goodey finishing with 4 wickets and Dan Wolf three.
(Above is Dan Pyle & Ben Green with there century scores marked up on the scoreboard at Skukuza CC)
This result made the Devon Under 15s two wins from two games, which was the perfect start to the South African adventure.
Game 3 - Southern Suburbs 40 overs a side Day night match at Bergvilet High School
Cape Town now beckons the team for challenges new, with a game Friday versus Southern Suburbs. Devon lost the toss and were asked to field in the first ever game these boys will have played under flood lights. Ben Green and Brad Causey started well with Green taking the opening batters outside edge and being caught by the diving Freddie Filor. Some inconsistant bowling led to the Southern Suberbs getting to 172 all out in 38 overs, wides being a real feature of the Suburbs innings with 32 being recorded by the Devon attack. The pick of the bowlers were Toby Codd who only conceeded 16 for 1 wicket off his 8, and also Ben Green who bowled with good pace and got a couple to his name. At the turnaround Devon were fairly confident at chasing down the runs with Will Thompson in the first couple of overs bashing a couple of 4s and a 6 straight back fast the bowler. Devon's fortunes then took a turn for the worse, with the consistant loss of wickets throughout the innings. The pick of the batters was Alfie Huxtable but was run out when strolling to complete a second run! Eventually the centurion from last game Ben Green came to the crease in a unusal situation for him batting at No. 11, this however was Devon's saving grace with Green striking the 14 needed off the first 4 balls of the last over! This meant another Devon win, with one wicket to spare. A truly great experience for the boys in there first day night encounter, but plenty of points to learn from.
(Above is Devon U15s at Bergvliet High School ready for action in there one day strip)
Two days of relaxing ahead now. With a day out at the watersports park, followed by a trip to Newlands to watch some cricket. Devons next game comes on Monday at the international ground at Paarl where the U15s will take on Boland.
(Picture above of Ben Green about to opening the Bowling at Bergvliet High School v Southern Suburbs)
Game 4 - Boland U15s at Paarl Cricket Ground
Devon won the toss and decided to bat. Steer & Pyle opened the innings in the glorious sunshine at Paarl international ground. Some good bowling by the bowling operners put pressure on the opening pair for Devon. This resulted in Pyle hitting a catch to square leg. Ben Green then joined Steer at the crease, runs started to come but unfortunately for Devon Steer had a rush of blood and picked out the mid on, on the edge of the cricle. Bringing Charlie Barriball to the wicket to join Green.
(Above a Photo of the Toss at Paarl v Boland U15s)
After some good work by Barriball & Green the score moved onto 47 for 2, this was until Green played across a straight delivery and was bowled. Barriball continued to play shots and made a competant 32, until he played one shot too many and was caught by the Boland wicket keeper flayling outside the off stump. A flurry of wickets reduced Devon 117 for 9 with the last wicket to fall being Dan Wolf who made a well crafted 32. Devon managed an under par 129 on a very hot day at Boland Park Paarl. Boland require 130 to win.
With Boland requiring 130 to win Devons work with ball flattered with lots of wides and no balls in the 40 degrees heat. The shining light was Ben Green whos overs were very economical and managed to dislodge two of Bolands batsman. After this though Boland found easy pickings of the rest of the Devon attack and managed to get over the victory line with half the overs to spare. Some harsh lessons learnt in the scorching heat by Devon U15s, hopefully this will be taken into tomorrow and Wednesdays encounter with the very strong Western Province 14s.
Game 5 - Western Province U14s at The Vineyard Oval
Captain Steer started the day well by winning the toss and deciding to bowl first. This proved the correct decision with some tight bowling by Green and Goodey. Devon managed at lunch to restrict the province to 128 for 4 with twenty five overs of the 60 in each innings left. The last 20 overs then came and went with Western Province managing to club 160 more runs in the sweltering heat. The star of the show with the ball however was Ben Steer who managed to collect three wickets. The province's final total was 278 for 8 in there 60 overs. Devon's innings started well with Fitzroy and Pyle putting away some loose balls. Devon managed to get to 25 for no loss but then lost a flurry of wickets and only Ben Steer put up any real resistance. Devon on the first innings were 140 runs behind the Western Province with the province deciding to bat again. The province innings went at a good pace but for wickets from Toby Codd collecting two victims and Alfie Huxtable one, There innings was declared three down with with Devon requiring 265 for the victory. Devon managed to survive a tough three overs before lunch, then Pyle and Telford put on a solid 30 before Pyle missed a straight delivery. Unfortunately then Telford was caught behind, and Alfie Huxtable adjudged LBW. This brought the pairing of Ben Steer and Ben Green to the crease but after a partnership was developing well Green nicked a ball behind and was dismissed. Some good aggressive batting by Thompson, Barriball, Codd and Wolf saw Devon get within 48 runs but unfortunately Brad Causey was the last man out, to see Devon sink to there second defeat of the tour.
(Above the squad photo at Newlands)
Game 6 - Western Province U15s at Northerns Goodwood Cricket Club
Final game Ben Steer called correctly and decided to field first. Devon started well with some tight bowling from Goodey and Green, unfortunately no wickets fell and the province managed to start compiling a total. Some good bowling slow bowling by Jake Reddick and Alfie Huxtable saw pressure building with each of the latter getting one wicket a piece. The Devon bowler which came to the for was yet again Ben Steer, who's gun barrell straight bowling manged to claim a 5 province wickets. This restricted the Province team to 202 for 8 in 50overs.
Devon's innings began in the worst way possible when quick bouncer from the Provinces opening bowler got opener Jamie Telford caught behind. This only got worse with another flurry of 4 wickets reducing Devon to 29 for 5. Ben Green and Dan Wolf then got togeather and took Devon past 100 and started to look towards the 202 with 15 overs remaining. With both men passing 50, Green was then dismissed and this was the beginning of the end with Devon being bowled out for 160, 42 short of Western Provinces total. A couple of good innings from Wolf and Green but after the start to the innings Devon had they were always going to be struggling from that.
The boys enjoyed a great tour, not just on a cricketing level but also on a life experience level which they will never forget. A massive thank you to our hosts in Kruger and also down in Cape Town. And a final thanks to Alan Swift the tour manager and Gavin Lane for all his organisational skills in making the tour happen!
For pictures of the tour go to our Facebook page to see how the tour unfolded.
If you are following the tour, why not enter the photo competition for the DYCF. Please click the link for more details http://www.devoncricket.com/page.asp?p=dycf_home
Start of play on day 2 with the openers Filor and Telford at the crease, starting to build a steady platform unfortunately losing both for scores in the mid teens. This brought Green to the crease who was starting to find his feet against the all spin attack of Nelspruit was unlucky to be bowled, when he struck the ball into his leg and rolled back onto his wickets. A small flurry of wickets with Reddick, Huxtable & Barriball all out, saw Devon reduced to 90 for 6 before lunch. After some good bowling Devon lost there remaining wickets after lunch leaving Nelspruit 226 to win the game. A solid start from Nelspruit saw them reach 50 for 1 in the mid afternoon session. This situation was quickly improved when Ben Steer struck twice to make the score 65 for 3 at tea time.
(ABOVE - Toby Codd bowls to the Nelspruit top order in the 2nd innings)
A tough afternoon session for the boys, but there persistence at bowling good lines and lengths came to reward with Steer claiming 5 wickets in the innings there was also wickets for all the spin options used, with Codd claiming 2, and Reddick and Huxtablle one a piece. Devon bowled and fielded as a tight unit and got there reward in the final over of the day with Codd bowling Nelspruits last man. This sealed a comprehensive victory for Devon by 102 runs. Tuesday meant a day of rest for the lads with a fabulous game drive seeing some mating lions and a host of other game. The game drive was followed up with golf for some of the party, the others had an afternoon of relaxing in the hot South African sunshine by the pool.
Game 2 - Uplands School 45 overs a side match
Ben Steer managed to call correctly on a scorching hot day at Skukuza CC. Will Thompson and Dan Pyle opened the Devon innings with Will Thompson chipping a catch to mid off in the second over. This brought the powerful Ben Green to the crease, who rode his luck with some dropped catches, but settled down with Pyle. Pyle pushed on passing his century with collection of 4s and 6s all around the Skukuza ground. A very mature innings finally came to an end when he was given out LBW. This brought Steer to the crease, but unfortunately last games hero didn't have the same affect on the game this time round. This ment Toby Codd joined Green at the wicket, but was given out LBW for single figures. Charlie Barriball and Ben Green put on a century stand with balls disappearing to all parts. Barriball was then caught for 55, Green continued and deposited the Uplands school off spinner into the trees to bring up his century. At the halfway point Devon have set Upland School 322 to win. Devon started in the perfect fashion though, with Goodey taking two wickets in the first over. This set the trend of things to come with Uplands School struggling to fall 199 runs behind the Devon total. Wickets were shared around by the Devon bowlers with Goodey finishing with 4 wickets and Dan Wolf three.
(Above is Dan Pyle & Ben Green with there century scores marked up on the scoreboard at Skukuza CC)
This result made the Devon Under 15s two wins from two games, which was the perfect start to the South African adventure.
Game 3 - Southern Suburbs 40 overs a side Day night match at Bergvilet High School
Cape Town now beckons the team for challenges new, with a game Friday versus Southern Suburbs. Devon lost the toss and were asked to field in the first ever game these boys will have played under flood lights. Ben Green and Brad Causey started well with Green taking the opening batters outside edge and being caught by the diving Freddie Filor. Some inconsistant bowling led to the Southern Suberbs getting to 172 all out in 38 overs, wides being a real feature of the Suburbs innings with 32 being recorded by the Devon attack. The pick of the bowlers were Toby Codd who only conceeded 16 for 1 wicket off his 8, and also Ben Green who bowled with good pace and got a couple to his name. At the turnaround Devon were fairly confident at chasing down the runs with Will Thompson in the first couple of overs bashing a couple of 4s and a 6 straight back fast the bowler. Devon's fortunes then took a turn for the worse, with the consistant loss of wickets throughout the innings. The pick of the batters was Alfie Huxtable but was run out when strolling to complete a second run! Eventually the centurion from last game Ben Green came to the crease in a unusal situation for him batting at No. 11, this however was Devon's saving grace with Green striking the 14 needed off the first 4 balls of the last over! This meant another Devon win, with one wicket to spare. A truly great experience for the boys in there first day night encounter, but plenty of points to learn from.
(Above is Devon U15s at Bergvliet High School ready for action in there one day strip)
Two days of relaxing ahead now. With a day out at the watersports park, followed by a trip to Newlands to watch some cricket. Devons next game comes on Monday at the international ground at Paarl where the U15s will take on Boland.
(Picture above of Ben Green about to opening the Bowling at Bergvliet High School v Southern Suburbs)
Game 4 - Boland U15s at Paarl Cricket Ground
Devon won the toss and decided to bat. Steer & Pyle opened the innings in the glorious sunshine at Paarl international ground. Some good bowling by the bowling operners put pressure on the opening pair for Devon. This resulted in Pyle hitting a catch to square leg. Ben Green then joined Steer at the crease, runs started to come but unfortunately for Devon Steer had a rush of blood and picked out the mid on, on the edge of the cricle. Bringing Charlie Barriball to the wicket to join Green.
(Above a Photo of the Toss at Paarl v Boland U15s)
After some good work by Barriball & Green the score moved onto 47 for 2, this was until Green played across a straight delivery and was bowled. Barriball continued to play shots and made a competant 32, until he played one shot too many and was caught by the Boland wicket keeper flayling outside the off stump. A flurry of wickets reduced Devon 117 for 9 with the last wicket to fall being Dan Wolf who made a well crafted 32. Devon managed an under par 129 on a very hot day at Boland Park Paarl. Boland require 130 to win.
With Boland requiring 130 to win Devons work with ball flattered with lots of wides and no balls in the 40 degrees heat. The shining light was Ben Green whos overs were very economical and managed to dislodge two of Bolands batsman. After this though Boland found easy pickings of the rest of the Devon attack and managed to get over the victory line with half the overs to spare. Some harsh lessons learnt in the scorching heat by Devon U15s, hopefully this will be taken into tomorrow and Wednesdays encounter with the very strong Western Province 14s.
Game 5 - Western Province U14s at The Vineyard Oval
Captain Steer started the day well by winning the toss and deciding to bowl first. This proved the correct decision with some tight bowling by Green and Goodey. Devon managed at lunch to restrict the province to 128 for 4 with twenty five overs of the 60 in each innings left. The last 20 overs then came and went with Western Province managing to club 160 more runs in the sweltering heat. The star of the show with the ball however was Ben Steer who managed to collect three wickets. The province's final total was 278 for 8 in there 60 overs. Devon's innings started well with Fitzroy and Pyle putting away some loose balls. Devon managed to get to 25 for no loss but then lost a flurry of wickets and only Ben Steer put up any real resistance. Devon on the first innings were 140 runs behind the Western Province with the province deciding to bat again. The province innings went at a good pace but for wickets from Toby Codd collecting two victims and Alfie Huxtable one, There innings was declared three down with with Devon requiring 265 for the victory. Devon managed to survive a tough three overs before lunch, then Pyle and Telford put on a solid 30 before Pyle missed a straight delivery. Unfortunately then Telford was caught behind, and Alfie Huxtable adjudged LBW. This brought the pairing of Ben Steer and Ben Green to the crease but after a partnership was developing well Green nicked a ball behind and was dismissed. Some good aggressive batting by Thompson, Barriball, Codd and Wolf saw Devon get within 48 runs but unfortunately Brad Causey was the last man out, to see Devon sink to there second defeat of the tour.
(Above the squad photo at Newlands)
Game 6 - Western Province U15s at Northerns Goodwood Cricket Club
Final game Ben Steer called correctly and decided to field first. Devon started well with some tight bowling from Goodey and Green, unfortunately no wickets fell and the province managed to start compiling a total. Some good bowling slow bowling by Jake Reddick and Alfie Huxtable saw pressure building with each of the latter getting one wicket a piece. The Devon bowler which came to the for was yet again Ben Steer, who's gun barrell straight bowling manged to claim a 5 province wickets. This restricted the Province team to 202 for 8 in 50overs.
Devon's innings began in the worst way possible when quick bouncer from the Provinces opening bowler got opener Jamie Telford caught behind. This only got worse with another flurry of 4 wickets reducing Devon to 29 for 5. Ben Green and Dan Wolf then got togeather and took Devon past 100 and started to look towards the 202 with 15 overs remaining. With both men passing 50, Green was then dismissed and this was the beginning of the end with Devon being bowled out for 160, 42 short of Western Provinces total. A couple of good innings from Wolf and Green but after the start to the innings Devon had they were always going to be struggling from that.
The boys enjoyed a great tour, not just on a cricketing level but also on a life experience level which they will never forget. A massive thank you to our hosts in Kruger and also down in Cape Town. And a final thanks to Alan Swift the tour manager and Gavin Lane for all his organisational skills in making the tour happen!
For pictures of the tour go to our Facebook page to see how the tour unfolded.