The momentum built up by this squad at Warminster was continued in their game against Gloucestershire in a fantastic two days at Sandford. The players were greeted with another perfect summer’s day with the ground, as always, in a perfect condition. This venue, thanks to an amazingly hard working support team is where the county can feel fully at home, no club could offer more. The Devon young cricketers are indeed fortunate to have a number of clubs of this ilk. This time, with the onus of just tossing the coin, Dan Hardy got it right and he batted. With his now not so new opening partner, James Fletcher, the pair went twelve runs better that their second knock against Wiltshire putting on 110. This was the perfect start as they negotiated the first session putting on 95. The Gloucester attack looked useful but neither batsman had any fears. Refreshed with a typical Nicky Radnor lasagne it was hoped that they would also bat through the second session. Not to be, as nine minutes into the second session the captain departed caught behind for an excellent 62 (131 mins; 134 balls; 9 sixes). He left his partner on 34 and this is the number of runs the under 16 combination of Fletcher and Gareth Tidball put on for the second wicket. Fletcher reached his first 50 at seventeen’s (160 minutes; 134 balls) and like the previous week at sixteen’s did not bat on. We remain confident that the three figures are not that far away. He fell, leg before, for a personal 57 (9 fours) at 134. David Wrench is in need of a big innings to restore his own confidence in his batting as he is currently thinking too much! Here was the ideal opportunity with a tiring attack and depressed fielders for him to dominate. Disappointingly he did not take it. He again played across the line and was caught. Seb Benton was now at the crease which meant we no longer had to listen to every ball of the 38 he delivered the day before against the Royal Navy and his 6 wickets! He batted through the rest of the innings with great determination and skill. With Gareth Tidball the pair put on 54 with Tidball passing his second successive fifty (98 mins; 91 balls) when Tidball was caught. Poor Gareth was in the doghouse on three counts – not batting on, getting out eight minutes before tea and not looking at a new bowler. Having said that this was another fine innings. The importance gained by this top order playing in the hard knocks school of the Devon Cricket League cannot be overstressed as they approached batting in a very professional manner. Devon was 205-4 at tea well placed for a charge after the interval. Again this did not materialise despite Benton and Whittle (27) taking the score up to 255-5 when Whittle was caught. It is vital that the so called lower order fully appreciate, in the two day game, that on the batting front they have absolutely vital roles to play whether it is digging the side out of trouble or accelerating.                                              Next