Devon E

Kentisbeare v Whitchurch

WHITCHURCH's day at the smallest ground in the league started well with skipper Credicott winning the toss and opting to field first.

This decision was indicated with Vernon removing Chappell in the second over.

Farley and Ogden then added 50 for the second wicket, capitalising on some poor fielding and the small boundaries.

The introduction of Towl to the attack changed the direction of the game. He produced two superb, swinging deliveries to clean bowl Farley for 19 and Ogden for 41. Reed was also bowled soon after for 19 and Whitchurch were right on top.

McCartney and Howe then added 53 for the sixth wicket as Kentisbeare threatened to get back in to the game. However, Sambells bowled the decisive breakthroughs.

McCartney went for 54 bowled off his legs and then Howe gloved one to gulley for 32. Sambells blew away the tail to finish with 4-25, while Towl had figures for 3-44 as the home side were dismissed for 208.

The Whitchurch batsmen obviously thought the job was done as the top five perished with little to show for their efforts.

Howe bowled with aggression to take two early wickets, while Darling took 3-28.

At 48-5, composure was needed and found in an excellent partnership between Credicott and Billy Barriball. They timed their innings to perfection and accelerated the run rate well ahead of the required rate.

Billy completed another deserved half century as the partnership passed the 100 mark.

At 180-6 with overs in hand, rain interrupted the game and a revised run-rate Whitchurch now only needing 185 to win.

Those runs were duly knocked off within three deliveries of the restart, leaving Barriball not out on an excellent 95. Whitchurch won by four wickets and collecting another 20 points.