WHITCHURCH Wayfarers U13s Cricket Colts entertained Yelverton on Sunday, September 5, at Whitchurch House in the Palladium League Cup semi final.
On a wet artificial wicket the toss would be crucial and winning it, Whitchurch used the pace to slow Yelverton down to just 69 in their allotted 20 overs.
The first eight overs only produced 27 runs, Christian Hodges 4-0-13-1 and Charlie Barriball 4-0-14-1 bowled well.
Then captain Josh Towl 3-0-3-1 and Dan Poole 4-0-14-4 pushed home the advantage and with Dan Towl 2-0-9-1, Barney Megicks 1.5-0-8-0 and Ben Hodge 1-0-5-1 keeping it tight right to the end, Yelverton never got out of the blocks, with great fielding especially Tom Jackman behind the stumps, Whitchurch looked favourites to reach the final.
Whitchurch started well, until H Lopes' second over when he bowled Barriball, Poole and Megicks in consecutive balls for a great hat-trick. Josh Towl and James Perring re-built the innings taking the score to 45, before Towl played on to Adams, but with Jackman striking some nice boundaries, Whitchurch were home, with 6 overs to spare, to then face Cornwood in the final in the afternoon.
Whitchurch again won the toss in the final, and with injury to opener Christian Hodges, had to reshuffle their bowlers with Dan Poole after his four wickets in the semi, feeling confident.
Cornwood were up for the task, Matt Skeemer particularly harsh on anything short. Opening spells from Poole and Barriball obtaining two wickets and 34 runs off the bat honours even so far. Josh and Dan Towl came on and Skeemer batted well to four before a catch to dan Poole off Dan Towl. With an extra bowler needed, J Whitfield hit some classic shots off Megicks and secured a score of 120-6 off the 20 overs for Cornwood.
Whitchurch started slowly, but were well up with the run rate, particularly Barriball who was prepared to use his feet to the spin of Letherbridge, and hit the boundary well.
At drinks Whitchurch were 46-0 off ten overs, four runs better than Cornwood, but in the next over from Petherbridge A Richards took an absolutely stunning, diving catch at mid off, and with Barriball holding one out to Matt Skeemer, Whitchurch lost the next eight wickets for 17 runs and Cornwood completed the double cup and league for the season.
The team thanked all supporters and committee members from Whitchurch for all their help towards the day. Congratulations to Cornwood on their achievement.
n Whitchurch presentation evening is this Saturday, September 18, starting between 6-6.30pm at the club.