Whitchurch v Ashburton 2nd XI

WHITCHURCH won the toss and elected to field first. Horler made an early breakthrough, getting a ball to lift off A Leneth into the hands of Woodrow at slip.

Ingram and Horler kept things tight, with the occasional boundary being scored by Cook.

On 70-1, Ashes were well placed. However, Horler removed Cook for 62 with his final delivery and a superb spell of slow bowling by Woodrow meant the Ashes crumbled to 120 all out, Woodrow bowling 11 overs and taking 4-17. Horler two, Tamblin two and two sharp runouts accounting for the rest.

Whitchurch made heavy weather of the run chase. Ali Falconer batted well but wickets fell regularly at the end, West (2-25) and Munday (3-31) doing the damage. Falconer completed his first league 50 but was out shortly after.

At 90-6, Whitchurch were in a spot of bother, but a few lusty blows from Ingram (20no) supported by Stokes saw Whitchurch home by 4 wickets.

Whitchurch took 18 points from the game to go top of the league.

Earlier in the week, Whitchurch edged a nail-biting encounter against Bridestowe in the Evening League cup.

Bridestowe were held to 95 off their 20 overs despite 21 from Lavis and 33 from C Sizmur. In reply, Whitchurch were cruising at 42-0 off 6 overs, Gray (19), Barriball (19) and Stokes (28) had perished as S Sizmur conceded just 5 runs from 5 overs.

Whitchurch needed 13 from the last 7 balls with only two wickets remaining. Tamblin hit a towering 6 off his first ball to halve the target. The final over saw another wicket fall, but a boundary from Sambells enabled Whitchurch to get home with a single off the final ball.