Whitchurch Seconds v
Stoke Gabriel
Whitchurch seconds entered this game playing for pride and came out of it with a well deserved victory — their first of the season — after a superb all round team performance.
Stoke Gabriel 2nd XI turned up at Whitchurch with only 10 players after a number of late drop outs from the 1st XI and 2nd XI sides. Fortunately Stoke Gabriel were able to locate colt Matt Nand-Lal who was in Tavistock town centre. Thanks to Matt, his Grandad for finding him in the town and borrowed kit Stoke managed to field a full side.
Once again Neil Tamblin, standing in for the absent skipper, lost the toss and was unsurprisingly asked to bat on a drying track.
Stoke's Aussie, Matt Corstophin, made an early breakthrough with the score on three, but a partnership developed between Colts Sivyer and Elliott. Batting well together they saw off the opening bowlers, before Sivyer holed out for 17, to see Whitchurch on 37 for 2.
Whitchurch youngsters Jonny Elliott (65) and Ollie Macrae (27) set about turning the innings around with some stylish stroke play. The pair put on 60 for the third wicket when Stephen Nand-Lal (3-21) removed Macrae. Nand-Lal followed this up by taking the fourth wicket shortly afterwards with the score on 106.
Elliott batted on mixing solid defensive technique, with some divine strokeplay to complete a well deserved half century. After briefly batting in partnership with Elliott senior, Jonny departed for 65. Senior then picked up the mantle, rolling back the years with some lusty blows. At the other end the runs continued to flow, although wickets were being lost, including the 'farcical' run out of his skipper by Elliott.
Nand-Lal and Hill bowled well at the end, as Whitchurch threatened to post a total of 240, but were all out for 199 with one over to go. Nand-Lal the pick of Stoke's bowlers with 4 for 21.
Dave Higgins opened the innings with a new Stoke Gabriel opening partner, super veteran Clive Burnell. The Stoke response started badly when J Murphy removed key batsman Dave Higgins with the score on 16. Burnell was joined by Tim Nand-Lal and the pair put on 61 for the second wicket. Nand-Lal scored 54, including two sixes, before the introduction of the old timers to the bowling attack quickly swung the game in Whitchurch's favour. Tamblin first removed Nand- Lal assisted by a good catch from Rushton. Wickets followed in each of his next two overs and suddenly Stoke had collapsed to 98 for 4.
D Elliott's wily variation tied up one end, meaning the run rate was increasing and the game getting away from Stoke. Tamblin them bowled opener Burnell for 34 and the game was there for the taking.
Tamblin and Elliott ripped through the tail, with Tamblin taking 6 for 42 and Elliott 3 for 20 as Stoke crumbled to 143 all out and Whitchurch winning the game by 56 runs.
Whitchurch 19 points, Stoke Gabriel 7pts.