The ninth wicket fell at 272 with 37 balls and one wicket to achieve the 28 required for the fourth batting point. Cometh the hour cometh Andrew Buzza and Mark Orchard, making his under 17 debut, with Devon now in whites ready and eager to get into the field they took the score up to 299 after 101 overs. In the final over Buzza just went to town scoring 14 including an extra cover six and a refined cut for four. They both had batted superbly and perhaps this partnership typified the qualities of this side – grit – determination – character – skill – ability and team spirit. Close of play saw a 3 goal deficit turned around to a 4-3 win by the sixteen’s. As the side travelled back to the Black Bear it started to drizzle and this then turned into a dark autumnal night with heavy rain Curries proved popular and the side said goodbye to Porter who had no confidence in his ability to get three A’s and needed to be on hand to find a university somewhere in the UK that would take him. It rained much of the night and it was dark and forebiding when it was time to leave. The screen wipers were in use on the 30 minute journey but on arrival Dorset were starting their pre match preparation. Could we get a full day’s play in? Groundsman and umpires were happy we would start on time. Qualified coaches Seb Benton and Gary Chappell led an excellent warm up with total co-operation from their team mates – a true sign of the right attitude. Hardy wanted to bat on – we could look total idiots said the writer. Orchard takes charge, deprives Buzza of the strike and hey presto the score is 340, 30 added off  24 balls – perfect, Hardy calls them in. A text message was received from - Jack 3 A’s so Durham would be the unlucky university, presumably he just wanted a rest from this lot – but it was a shame he could not finish the season with his squad. The forecast was more reassuring after 1.00pm it would be bright so could a miracle happen and a full days play be achieved? Early wickets were critical, the Brixham Boys Hyde and Orchard did the business on 2 Hyde deceived Pearce and bowled him neck and crop, at 9 Orchard bowled Elliott and then it was 28- 3 Acton found Strickland’s edge; 50-4 and the key wicket as Dorset first teamer Richard Armstrong, who had hoped to be playing at Lords, was well held by Hardy with the ball leaving him off Joel Seward. Seward was in the middle of one of the top spells of the season. He was moving it both ways in the air and of the seam and this was a big wicket as his colleagues showed. A message came through that it had rained so much in Taunton that the Twenty20 was cancelled – will keep this information until later. Poor Maher was in all sorts of trouble against Seward who hit him on the body twice, it was only a matter of time and at 62 he was bowled and lunch was taken. Soon after lunch the Hardy – Seward combination removed another competent batter in keeper Ridley 70-6.                                             Next