Devon C

Bridestowe v Whitchurch

Whitchurch captain Richard Hall won the toss for a remarkable 12th time and had no hesitation in asking Bridestowe to bat.

With Sambells (1-46) unable to find his radar Bridestowe got off to a flyer. A plethora of boundaries and extras saw them reach 50 without loss in the ninth over. 

Jack Hatton (38) was merciless on anything short as he was the top scorer of the day. At the other end Joel Heatley (2-51) bowled with accuracy and patience and was rewarded when Hatton tried one attacking shot too many. Heatley and Meadows (1-23) oversaw a mini collapse as the home side went from 80-1 to 83-4 in the space of two overs. A fine run out by Nigel Barriball dismissed the dangerous Tremain before he had opened his account.

At this stage Whitchurch were in the ascendency and started to set attacking fields. Heatley and Kerswill (2-16) worked in tandem and strangled the run rate as Mark Fogerty (32) and his son Tom (9) tried to consolidate. Taking the pace off the ball seemed to be the order of the day with batsmen frequently misjudging line and length. Neil Tamblin (3-31) helped finish off the innings as the home side reached 167, including 37 extras - which were to later haunt the visitors.

In reply Whitchurch were put under pressure by both Tom Fogerty (4-54) and Binns (0-54) who bowled a much better line offering the opening pair few scoring opportunities.

Ewen Smith (21) played with few inhibitions and hit cleanly before he misjudged the first ball from Ewen (1-18). Billy Barriball (29) showed his class with some beautiful straight drives as he dominated a partnership of 36 with Richard Hall. Martin Credicott (13) and Joel Heatley (29) then put on 18 before Martin was snared by Jutson (2-27). Jutson bowled the spell of the match with 15 straight overs including six maidens.

Meadows (28) and Heatley were putting Whitchurch back in control when Tom Fogerty came back to take a wicket in each of his first three overs. Unfortunately for Bridestowe Jutson was running out of overs and the runs leaked from the other end and the finishing line crept closer. Both sides tensed and at 149-7 the game could have gone either way.

Joel Heatley and Nigel Barriball (8 not out) showed their experience and calmed nerves taking the visitors to within a whisper of the total. Heatley's long innings (72 balls) ended with the target in sight. Tamblin hit the winning runs with a lovely straight drive.

n Whitchurch firsts are at home to Halberton on Saturday; the seconds are away to Kingskerswell; on Sunday there is a friendly with Plymouth City Bus; on Monday a friendly against Mendip Acorns; on Tuesday in the TEL Whitchurch are away to Tavistock; on Wednesday the ladies are away to Plympton.