THE recent sunny weather seemed a distant memory as Whitchurch began their season (after a wash-out the day before) by entertaining visitors Belstone on a cold gloomy afternoon last Sunday.
Put in to bat Belstone made a cautious start reaching 46 before Dennis Edwards was caught for 22 in the 15th over. This brought Eddie Jones to the crease who began the acceleration with opener Wayne Pearce. They put on 73 in ten overs before Pearce (56) gave Bellamy the first of his three outfield catches.
Runs continued apace in a third wicket stand of 96 between Jones (eight fours and three sixes in his 81) and Chris Walpole (ten fours in his 47) who both exploited the short boundaries with strong pulling and driving.
Pick of the Whitchurch bowlers were openers Horler and Alford who conceded around three runs an over apiece, while Julian Faulkner maintained a good line and length under attack in the later stages of the innings.
Belstone?s opening bowlers of Jonathan Parsons and Rob Sandercock put the pressure on with economical spells that conceded only 32 runs from the first 16 overs so that Whitchurch were quickly behind the asking rate.
This pressure was maintained by Chris Gomersall, who found some late movement off the pitch to clean bowl three of the middle order and finish with the best figures of the match, three for 19 off eight overs, with four maidens.
Whitchurch?s best batting came from Ian Gray, who hooked Jones for four and six in consecutive balls during his knock of 25, and skipper Neil Tamblin who remained undefeated with a fluent half century as the innings came to end (as the rain set in) on 165 for seven, giving the visitors a convincing victory by 69 runs.
Belstone begin their home programme this Sunday at 2.30 pm when the visitors will be Old Suttonians.