Devon C West

Whitchurch Wayfarers v Bridestowe

ON an overcast and damp day at Whitchurch new captain Billy Barriball lost the toss on what was surely a bowl first day with the forecast looking to ease in the afternoon and was sent in to bat.

The new skipper opened the batting with Josh Towl and the pair looked untroubled in the early stages of the game scoring at a good rate within the mandatory power play. The pair put on 27 within the first 5 overs before Barriball edged T Fogerty (1-27) to Hatton at first slip for 17. That brought younger brother Charlie Barriball to the crease and he continued to play in an aggressive manner.

Towl then fell with the score on 38 as the Fogerty brothers combined, Dan bowling and older brother Tom taking a good catch. Bone came to the crease but offered no resistance, as he was clean bowled by Dan Fogerty (2-32).

Tom Sherrell returned to the first team for the season and looked in good touch, he scored at a fast rate and his partnership with Charlie Barriball took the score quickly to 76. Barriball was finally dismissed for 25 when he edged pick of the bowlers Kahn (5-41) to the keeper.

Whitchurch's middle order showed some fight with Elliot supporting the aggressor Sherrell.  Sherrell, however, could not kick on and was bowled by Kahn for 31, which proved to be the top score of the innings. Scott came in at seven but was out for two and yet another victim to the spinner Kahn.

Nigel Barriball scored a useful 20 but when Elliot was out to an outstanding diving catch from Lavis off the bowling of Down (2-9) the resistance faded with the tail only adding 7 runs, making the home side all out for 147.

With tea delayed until 4.40pm Whitchurch had an hour in which to flip this game on its head and when Kerswell (1-29) got T Fogerty caught by keeper C Barriball in the second over things looked promising.

Captain Barriball (1-32) caused problems with the ball, hitting Hatton the on the cheek in the early stages. Hatton, however, was dropped at slip in single figures off B Barriball and that pegged the home side back as he went on to score 28 before he launched D Poole (1-16) straight up and the oldest Barriball on the field showed he still had it covering good ground at mid off to take a superb catch over his shoulder. Down and M Fogerty batted sensibly and batted through to tea with their side in a commanding position with only two wickets down.

The new captain turned to Bone (2-25) after tea and he got the breakthrough when M Fogerty cut straight to Sherrell at point. Kahn could not replicate his work with the ball with the bat when he also fell to Bone for one with Kerswell taking a smart one handed catch fielding in close. 

Down batted through and finished 49 not out, just one run short of his half century and was supported by J Ewen who hit a quick fire 31 not out to take Bridestowe to a 6 wicket victory, picking up all 20 points and leaving the Wayfarers with just four points from their first game.