Pressure was now off, promotion confirmed and with it the championship, mission accomplished. Let’s have some fun and get to 250. This lot do dream a bit and with around 43 overs available it would still be a big ask against a reasonable attack. So it proved. Openers Bess and Bowser did their normal stuff putting on 110 in 20 overs Bess went first two short of the fifty with an exclamation from the score box when he was caught after a forthright innings, his partner went next over for a fine 62 and Devon were now 115 -2 time to rebuild. With Porters record average in his sights Wilkinson completed yet another 50 and Cooke whacked a 25. Cooke fell at 194 and Carr in on the charge took his side to a third batting point as he fell at 207 and unselfishly Wilkinson was out at 212 for a 60 ball 52 – it was noticeable that Porter had been encouraging the loudest to hit out! The wheels fell off as the ask was now impossible despite the confidence of the team at 213 Porter ran out Knight to ensure that he suffered the pair and not Porter and Carr called them in with three overs unused. It had been an incredible two days and the 20 points took the side up to 97 for the season.

The assistant manager decided to avoid the M5, took us through the City Centre and 30 minutes later the A38 was found but with no Little Chefs so Moto at Bridgwater was visited as the M5 rejoined. The bus entered the North Devon drop off point to the loudest ever rendition of It’s Over and pathetically the mini bus driver felt some what emotional. It is rare to work with a group of players who have no idea of defeat, all of the players are talented, none have ego’s, they are totally united, good mates and there is not a single Prima Donna. What a season, what a group.

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