Devon Cricket Tour 2010
DEVON CRICKET TOUR 2010
Cricket Tour
Fifteen Under 13 boys from Beechen Cliff School recently participated in the annual South Devon cricket tour, taking on a number of strong opponents in matches spread over three days. Two wins and two narrow defeats appeared to be a fair return on their endeavours. The first match against Exeter School Under 13, Devon Champions for the last two years, proved to be a tough ‘opener’. Reaching 177 from their 25 overs the home side appeared to have everything stacked in their favour. Strong batting from Beechen Cliff’s Rhys Evans soon had the Exeter boys in some difficulty, however, and by the thirteenth over Beechen Cliff were on 86 for 2 and cruising towards the target set. The shock loss of Evans for 49 turned the tables, however, and Beechen Cliff’s run rate slipped. Only 20 runs short of their target the last ball was bowled with the visitors still shy of the target and only two wickets remaining.
The second match, against Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, restored the balance, and the tourists won a shortened match by a comfortable 42 runs, thanks mainly to the powerful batting of Will Brooker. The second day saw a visit to Dartmouth and the American D Day ‘practise’ beaches – following which a move up the coast to Paignton Cricket Club. A strong club team, the corresponding fixture last season had been very tight. This year proved no different!
Beechen Cliff opened the batting and slowly built up a score against determined Paignton attack bowlers. The Beechen Cliff score ended on 112 for 3 after 20 good Paignton overs. Oliver Weaver and Joshua Read were the pick of the Beechen batsmen, on 32 and 34 not out respectively. The Paignton attack in response was very strong and even good bowling by the Beechen Cliff boys appeared to be unable to stop a relentless drive on the modest target. Wickets from Felix Squire, at a critical point in the game, turned things in Beechen Cliff’s favour, however, and the confidence in the Paignton batting began to fall away. More wickets fell and with one over remaining the home side needed 16 runs to win. The reliable Cronin stepped up and delivered 6 excellent deliveries to crush any last hope and the Beechen Cliff boys were ‘ahead’ in their own series. The many visiting parents were delighted to have been able to witness such a close match and they left to celebrate at nearby guesthouses.
The final match, against Stoke Gabriel Cricket Club, saw the Beechen boys take on an invitation XI of quality, including a highly rated county batsman in Dan Escott. Such strong opposition needed sharp minds and clear heads, both of which were lacking after two “limited sleep hour” nights.
Rhys Evans again came to the crease and struck out a strong innings, scoring 48 runs, closely followed by skipper Josh Read. The latter’s niggling injury was to see him not take part in bowling during the match, a development which helped ‘tip the balance’ at the close. A Beechen Cliff innings of 134 for 5 was not really good enough after 25 overs, around 20 short of what appeared ‘defendable’. Stoke Gabriel set about the task of getting the runs with ‘gusto’, brushing aside the attack of Weaver and Cronin. Weaver took one wicket but struggled to maintain good line and was punished for it by Escott. Escott was dropped by the ‘keeper’ from the excellent Cronin and the chance missed swung the game in favour of Stoke Gabriel. With only 7 balls remaining the home team reached the target and the Bath boys were to have to learn from small errors that brought big consequences.
The tour was a wonderful event, the boys conducting themselves well and proving great ambassadors for the school and for Bath.
