Whitchurch Seconds v Plymouth Civil Service Thirds

THE match was played at Sir John Hunt school on Astroturf. Whitchurch skipper Neil Tamblin won the toss for the third time in four matches and had no hesitation in asking the hosts to bat.

Josh Vernon backed up that decision with a wicket in his first over, caught at first slip by Paul Daymond after the ball had ricocheted off Pete Freedman's thigh.

Apart from the usual high number of wides the run scoring remained low with Civil at 21 for two after nine.

Bowling changes yielded wickets.

First Tamblin held on to a steepling catch off his own bowling to the surprise of most and then Doug Vernon claimed the fourth.

Read had scored quickly reaching 44, before being snared by a one handed catch by Daymond off Tamblin.

Tamblin (three for 40) and Vernon (three for 24) raced through their overs as the remainder of the Civil batting found runs hard to come. Trembath (two for 27) cleared up the tail as Civil were dismissed for 115.

In reply, Whitchurch made a steady start.

Daymond scored 17 before being caught behind off Yates.

That brought Freedman to the crease, who despite playing his first match for seven years looked as assured and composed as ever.

Vernon was bowled by Ley, but Freedman and Ford added 47 for the third wicket as Whitchurch neared their target.

Civil returned the compliment, ceding 19 wides. With the scores level, Freedman pulled the ball away for four to complete a deserved half century.

Whitchurch took 19 points from the game and remain top if their division.