Devon seconds D West

Whitchurch seconds v Plympton thirds

DESPITE the morning downpours this game started on time. It was a game of four quarters as Whitchurch dominated the early overs of each innings before Plympton fought back in the latter overs.

The pitch was damp but Plympton elected to bat first.

Whitchurch bowlers had Plympton in all sorts of trouble at 12-5 and then 21-6. Father and son combination of Nigel and Charlie Barriball doing the damage with three wickets each.

The Plympton recovery then started. Vince and Mortimer added 48 for the seventh wicket before Vince was caught on the boundary off Charlie by brother Billy. Charlie completing a 13 over spell with 4-45.

Mortimer continued his dogged resistance and found another ally in Havard. They added 90 for the eighth wicket as the game slipped away from Whitchurch.

Mortimer was finally bowled by Sherrell (2-9) for a valuable 65. Havard soon followed for 26 as Plympton were dismissed for 161 with one over to go.

Whitchurch got off to a flyer in reply with Sherrell smashing 26 off 15 balls. Billy Barriball (31) and Credicott (17) had advanced the score to 73-1 before the customary Whitchurch collapse set in. Having starred earlier with the bat, Mortimer was once again the catalyst for the game changing swing. He bowled a devastating spell of 6-5 from 9 overs, as Whitchurch crumpled to 87-8.

Youngsters Hodge and Jackman hung around long enough to get the score to the 100 mark, but that was as far as it went as Mulberry (3-5) polished things off.

Whitchurch took six points. The same number of those acquired by the first team who were en route to Whimple when the call came through that the game was off.

This week Whitchurch firsts are at Buckfastleigh to face Plymouth Civil Service, while the seconds entertain Dartington and Totnes.