When a side scores the seventh highest total at this age group you have to be optimistic but  when one of the better age group bowling and fielding squads concedes the tenth highest aggregate you have to be totally depressed and that is the emotion that the excellent Exmouth ground was left with. Again it was a strange curate’s egg performance but a total reversal of the one put on against the Welsh. Devon won the toss, on a belter, and batted, on the whole we batted really well as a unit with the openers Fraser and Bess putting on 64 off 70 balls. Fraser fell first repeating his dismissal against the Cornish at the St Austell last year - he was struck on the pad  this time an appeal for leg before – not given with his thoughts distracted by the appeal the ball eventually rolls on to stumps – on his bike – at least he got in a 46 minute net. Thirty-two for the second wicket and this time Bess is caught after 53 productive minutes. The third wicket of Bowser and Knight, who had been promoted to make a point to the selectors, put on one short of a half century in 67 balls. Bowser is encouragingly in good nick at the moment but…….this time he was in three minds- sweep it, whack it or leave it – he unfortunately choose the latter and was bowled around his legs. Hopefully someone will suffer soon. Meanwhile Knight was making his point and under 15 David Wrench was being given his first real opportunity at this level to shine. The result 51 runs off also 67 balls of which the Plympton youngster scored 38 off 43 balls when he was caught. Knight was approaching his maiden county fifty and had lost the strike but was then joined by his captain. He duly reached the figure and then got out – not good cricket. James Carr also had a point to make and was duly doing so but he then fell for a 13 ball 18. Devon was now 220-6 after 44.2 overs having raised the 200 in 42 overs. Yau and Porter fell in the cause and it was left to the Bradninch pairing of Ross Acton and Garry Chappell to steer the side to a decent target. They put on 23 off 18 balls and at tea all should have been satisified with 262-8.

                                              Next