Palladium U17s League

Whitchurch U17s v Tavistock U17s

ON a sun drenched morning Tavistock put Whitchurch in to bat but had to be patient before the first wicket fell, that of Tim Watson, in the seventh over to first change bowler Bob Luscombe.

This brought Richard Hall to the crease to join Peter Freedman who shared a 50-run partnership before Luscombe struck again to remove Freedman for a vigilant 34 with the score on 75 .

Hall went on to make 47 and with contributions from Jude Rotton (10) Peter Williams (12no) and James Aggiss (9) took the score to 142 for 5 in the 25 overs allocation.

Luscombe was pick of the bowling with 2 for 33, ably supported by David Downham (1 for 22), Alex Rose (1 for 20) and Ben Neale (1 for 33).

Tavistock, requiring just under 6 an over, started in positive fashion with 8 from the first over.

Opening bowlers Peter Williams (1 for 21) and Nathan Patrick (1 for 14) stole the initiative back, both completing tight spells leaving Tavistock some way short of the run rate with 36 off 10 overs and both opening bats back in the hutch.

Whitchurch, with a combination of poor bowling and lethargic fielding, put Tavistock back on track with a stand of 69 between Luscombe and Ollie Hicks.

Oliver Field then bowled Hicks for 25 putting Whitchurch back in the driving seat.

Tavistock still needed 36 off the last 5 overs when the Whitchurch bowling and fielding deteriorated again, allowing Luscombe, finishing 59 not out, and David Downham, 15 not out, to seal victory with an over to spare.

Richard Hall, Whitchurch, and Tom Povey, Tavistock, were fielders of the match.