With the weather turning for the worst and the league programme decimated on the Saturday and the 21s called off on the Sunday before travelling to Bournemouth a wet track was a prospect for the first time this summer for the game at Sandford. The discussion around the breakfast table was the importance of winning the toss in this vital game. There was real concern particularly following the captain’s guarantees at Reading and his boasting of an inability to loose the toss as this was bound to be the occasion when he would. So it proved Buckinghamshire called tails, water had seeped under the covers and this was a toss that we really needed to win. Bucks fresh from their win over Gloucestershire, which gave them 18 points, had half the Devon side out for 32 by 11.46am as their seamers, including an under 15, exploited the conditions with some skill. Both our openers went at two, Bowser bowled on the leave and Bess trapped in front. Wilkinson was lowering anchor as he watched as Cooke was bowled, Knight caught behind and Porter checking his drive in mid stream to get caught at short extra. The ball was deviating in all directions off the seam and we had real problems, thoughts of Hampshire 2002 were to the fore. We were now down to Plan E which was to get to at least 150 and hope the track would still misbehave when we bowled which at this rate might have been before lunch! Fortunately Wilkinson and Joe Smith reverted to Plan D and bat to lunch. The new Torquay second team’s captain batting has become increasingly important in this team and Wilkinson was putting on perhaps his most important and best performance for the County. Fresh from his maiden league hundred he played immaculately in incredibly difficult circumstances adjusting to the situation and increasingly looking at ease. His partner, under 16 captain Joe Smith, put into good effect all the knowledge his experience in opening for Heathcoat this summer has provided and they took the side to lunch at 102-5 off 32 testing overs. The earlier plans then came back into the reckoning but as often happens a break brought a wicket and Smith fell in the second over after lunch with just one run added. He waved at a wide one and was caught behind, his innings had helped turn the tide and he faced 72 balls in his 78 minutes at the crease hitting 2 fours in his 18. The partnership of 71 had a major effect on both sides and the balance was starting to switch. It was decided that we should try and change the rhythm of the innings and Captain Carr went in to try and break up the tempo. With Wilkinson they put on another important 31 runs with Carr scoring 12 runs off 14. At 134-7 off 40 overs and the wicket getting flatter Plan C - anything over 200 will be useful - came back into effect.

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