Sunday friendly

Swanton Allstars v

Whitchurch Wayfarers

SUNDAY week proved an interesting day for Whitchurch. A win for the debut captaincy, for the club, of Tom Ingram against a side that included the club's founder, David Gordon.

Swanton batted first and made good progress with the openers posting good scores. Davis was Swanton's top scorer with 47 runs before falling victim to Sackfield who returned figures of 3 for 24.

The Swanton middle order then put in a good solid performance before the lower order were cleaned up by Ingram (3-20). Swanton closed on 152-9.

The Whitchurch Innings got off to a healthy start as Pedrick put his day's various pre-game catastrophes behind him as he powered his was to 75. Additional runs from Harding (20) and Shorrock (26) helped the home team home to a 6-wicket

victory.

Suitably, the best bowling figures from the visitors came from Swanton who returned 3 for 16.

Whitchurch Wayfarers v

Chiltern Gypsies

THE Gypsies batted first and the inspired bowling of Wood (4-25) saw the cheap dismissal of the visitors' openers. However, Gypsies' number three, Monser, then built an excellent score of 97 before being dismissed just short of his century by the bowling of Freedman (2-8). Various other contributions pushed the visitors' closing score up to 164 for 9.

Whitchurch's initial reply was good with Rae (20) and Freedman (17) making a good base. However good bowling by Harding (3-40) ad Oke (3-18) saw a sudden collapse in the upper middle order.

The home side rallied as the tail showed its mettle with good resistance being shown by all batsmen including a superb 9th wicket stand of 34 runs from Tamblin (20) and Ingram (17) which included excellent running between the stumps.

In the closing stages of the game the home side required 34 off three overs, despite excellent fielding this was taken to 3 runs required off the last two balls. With a run-out occurring on the penultimate ball this left colt Richie Freedman to face his first and last ball of the game to either win, lose or draw.

With the visitors well and truly fired up the last ball went down as a dot ball to give an enjoyable drawn game.

Devon League

Whitchurch Wayfarers v Ivybridge

WHITCHURCH hosted Ivybridge in the last League game of the season and having lost the toss were asked to bat.

Batting on a wet wicket the home side struggled to get going and despite a well worked 25 from Hodge it was left to the middle order to bolster the score, including a good 39 from Elliott.

Ivybridge bowled well with Thomas ( 2-24) and Lancaster (2-19) proving the most effective in restricting Whitchurch to 154 for 8.

Ivybridge made a slow start and with the exception of Witcher (28) and Thomas (33) did little to trouble the Whitchurch bowlers. Davies proving the most economical bowler with figures of 3 for 21 and Elliott also acquitting himself with 3 for 35. Ivybridge were bowled out for 123 to give Whitchurch a 31-run victory.

Sunday friendly

Whitchurch Wayfarers v

Stoke Gabriel

STOKE Gabriel batted first and despite the still damp pitch their opening pair made a good start with M. Smith making a rapid 51 runs before falling victim to Richard Hall who went on to take 4 for 25. T Price stayed at the crease and built a solid 51 before falling to the bowling of T Sackfield (3 - 24). Stoke Gabriel were bowled out for 146.

Whitchurch made a steady start until the arrival of R Hall (39) when the runs started to flow. P Williams provided a typically aggressive 20 runs to keep the home side in touch and despite a variety of Stoke Gabriel bowlers, of which R Baker (2-21) provided the best figures, the game went to 6 runs off the last ball.

This proved a bit of a tall order with only two being run to give Stoke Gabriel the victory by 3 runs. Thanks go to Francis Clark for sponsoring an enjoyable game. This Sunday will be a local derby, away to Yelverton.