Devon C West

Bridestowe v Whitchurch

BRIDESTOWE remain top of C (West) after a narrow victory at home to fellow moorlanders Whitchurch.

The home side won the toss and decided to field first. The bowling was opened up by Tom Fogerty and Gary Sizmur, who both got plenty of carry through to keeper Mark Fogerty.

Scoring was slow and the pressure eventually told as Jacobs clipped one to the vacant mid-on but Tom swooped around from mid-wicket and threw down the stumps at the bowlers end to bring the first wicket.

Smith and Billy Barriball put together a small partnership but that ended when Billy was caught at square leg trying to sweep Nazir Kahn (4-25) who was the pick of the bowlers for Bridestowe. He soon picked up Smith and Whitchurch were 34-4. Powell and Bone saw the away side to drinks but Kahn continued to do damage getting Powell for 6 and bowling Sambells' first ball.

Bone and Sherrell made the most noticeable partnership as they put on 36 but they both fell victim to Dan Fogerty (3-24) who got Sherrell caught behind for 23 and then bowled Bone for 27. Whitchurch's tail did wag and they ended up all out for 119.

Dan replaced Lavis and had Sherrell caught behind after a few lusty blows. Bray clipped a 4 and then picked out Khan at deep square leg to give Dan his second. Bone batted well with the tail and got to 27 before he was bowled by Dan (3-23). Kerswill was last man out, caught off Lavis with the score on 119. With no demons in the pitch, Bridestowe were confident of getting an easy victory.

The Bridestowe chase, like the week before, got off to a racing start through Fogerty and Sizmur, who smashed Sambells for 22 in just 3 overs. It was to be spin all the way at the other end, with Kerswill taking the new ball as usual. He was more economical, despite a few sixes from Tom over the long boundary. The score raced to 55-0 before Sizmur was given out to Kerswill (2-24) to what would prove the first of many LBW decisions. Barry also fell LBW at the other end to Barriball's off-spin and BCC were in a spot of bother when Tom (32) top-edged a sweep from the same bowler.

Things went quickly downhill from there as Khan was caught in the gully, Hatton became another LBW victim and James Ewen was inexplicably run out off a free-hit. Sam Ewen extended the collapse as he hit a short ball straight back to Barriball and Dan also fell to complete Barriball's 5-wicket haul.

Mark Fogerty and Mark Butler both played their usual games, with the former solid in defence and the latter looking to find the fence at every opportunity. The target crept closer as the pair rotated the strike and found the odd boundary. The 100 was brought up with a towering six over midwicket by Butler and Fogerty followed suit with a massive straight hit over the long boundary off Bone.

Only the 4th and 5th overs of seam bowling of the innings proved costly, as Butler clubbed Towl for 14 in two overs to bring the target within touching distance. The win was sealed as Butler (31*) smashed Charlie Barriball over deep midwicket for a massive six and followed it up with a four in the same area to snatch the win.

It should have been a much simpler chase for the home side, but the visitors used their bowling resources well on a pitch which did offer plenty of turn.

Next week brings a trip to third placed Babbacombe for Bridestowe, while Whitchurch will be looking to make the most of their upcoming back to back home games starting next week against Kingsbridge.