Devon League E

Kentisbeare v

Whitchurch first XI

WHITCHURCH will view their first game as one they let slip.

Asked to bat first Whitchurch made steady progress with only the early loss of Stokes to hinder them.

Tight bowling by the opening pair of Chave (3 for 41) and Hobson (2-43) meant that progress was slow.

Man of the match Billy Barriball (53) and D Vernon (55) were seldom in danger.

At the halfway stage on 77-1 they started to accelerate the scoring with both batsmen clearing the field several times. After the fall of Vernon, Credicott made a brief appearance before Webb, with a quickfire 30 to boost the score.  Extras pushed the score up to 214 and the visitors were pleased at the halfway stage.

In reply, Kentisbeare set off at well above the required run rate. After 10 overs they had reached 57 for the loss of two wickets. Ogden (61) and Chappell (31) put on a 97 in what was probably a match winning partnership.

They offered few chances until Billy Barriball (6-22) came on to bowl. Limited to just seven overs he ripped through the Kentisbeare batting and caused consternation in the home camp as they saw defeat looming.

From 154-2 and cruising they slumped to 168-5 and then 198-9, still 16 runs shy of the winning target. Unfortunately, his overs ran out and the other bowlers could not match his accuracy or penetration. Kentisbeare scraped home in the last over by the narrowest of margins —giving away 44 runs in wides is something Whitchurch will need to reduce in the future.