Devon D West

Whitchurch firsts v Paignton seconds

ON Saturday Whitchurch gained a stunning win to move out of the relegation zone.

Winning the toss for only the second time this season Ben Powell opted to put the visitors in. With the sun beating down and little wind his opening bowlers may not have thanked him. The ball found the middle of the bat and loose deliveries disappeared to the boundary; Paignton raced along to 88 without loss before Smith (27) nicked one behind to Nigel Barriball. 

A couple of quick wickets brought some hope to the home side until Simcox (22) and Tehrani (25) threatened to take the game away. A mix up between the batsmen resulted in a run out leaving the game tightly balanced at 158 for 5.

Potts (3 for 46) had been bowling really well but his overs were running out. Ward (30) was another Paington batsman to get started but not push on to a match winning score. When he was out, well caught in the deep by Ben Powell, the first innings came to a rapid conclusion. The target of 223 at the tea interval left both teams believing they had a chance.

Powell (43) and Potts (19) got the home team off to a good start. When Potts nicked one to the slips and a couple of wickets fell memories of last week’s collapse must have been in the home side’s mind. Like the visitors, several batsmen got going but did not push on and at 127-6 the game was delicately balanced.  When Nigel Barriball came to the crease the asking rate was over six an over and the odds were with Paignton. After facing three deliveries from young Rory Medlock (1-40) Nigel showed his intentions by striking him straight down the ground for two boundaries. Six sixes and a further five fours took the game away from Paignton in a blink of an eye. Ably supported by Dan Poole (24 not out) Nigel raced to an unbeaten 80 and Whitchurch won by four wickets. 

Devon D West P W L Pts

Stoke Gabriel 9 8 1 160

Yelverton 9 7 2 154

Plymouth seconds 9 7 2 148

South Devon 9 5 4 120

Paignton seconds 9 4 5 117

Kenn 9 4 5 111

Whitchurch 9 3 4 96

Barton 9 3 6 88

Torquay seconds 9 3 6 84

Plymouth CS and R 9 2 7 70