Oundle School on WED:13 and Thurs: 14th August 2003.
Devon
travelled to Oundle full of optimism having played some excellent cricket
to win their group. The finals also involved Surrey and Yorkshire with
counties playing each other once.
The weather was fine but unfortunately the poor quality pitches, slow
and low, dictated the quality of cricket played.Whilst staying in posed
not too many problems forcing the pace, particularly against the slower
bowlers, proved hazardous for all the batters.
In the first match Surrey and Yorkshire drew and it was clear from this
game that the pitches would favour the slower bowlers. This proved to
be a particular problem for Devon’s batsmen who were unable to cope
with the low bounce and turn.
Devon v Yorkshire Wednesday 13th August.
Yorkshire 141 all out in 50.5 overs. P Critchley 58,
G Wood 32 ,
G
Norton 25. R Acton 4.5 0 18 1, M Cooke 17 3 26 3,J Carr 16 3 60 5
Devon 114 for 9 in 55 overs. L Townsend 17 6 41 4, A
Bilton 18 10 15 3.
MATCH DRAWN
Yorkshire batted first and
were given an excellent start of 92 by Critchley (58)and Wood (32). Devon’s
early seam bowling was disappointing and this was to prove a significant
factor in the final result. Wicket to wicket back of a length bowling
was required but none of the seamers was able to consistently achieve
this.
It was not until the introduction of spin from Cooke (17 3 26 3) and Carr
(16 3 60 5) that any measure of control was possible. Yorkshire found
that batting against slow bowling was a difficult proposition and slumped
from 92 for 1 in the 29th over to 169 all out in the 51st over with only
one other batsman achieving double figures.
The latter stages of Yorkshire’s innings suggested that even a modest
total of 170 to win would be difficult and so it proved. All the batsmen
found scoring runs very difficult and nobody was able to cope with the
quality spin of Townsend and Bilton.
At 75 for 9 defeat seemed inevitable but an excellent unbroken last wicket
stand of 39 in 20 overs by Porter and Wilkinson ensured a draw and one
point each for the two sides. To defy Yorkshire’s attack for so
long required commendable concentration and illustrated that whilst scoring
runs was difficult survival was possible.
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