Devon D West

Barton seconds v Whitchurch seconds

WHITCHURCH lost a tight game which they could and, arguably, should have won. Taking a team depleted of some regulars to Barton they were put into bat and all started well.

Potts (53) opened with Powell (17) and they put on 51 for the first wicket, seeing off the tidy bowling of Porter (0 for 39) and Hemms (0-12).

The fall of Powell brought in Gibbs (26) who with Potts took the score to just shy of 100. At the drinks interval Whitchurch were sitting pretty with over 100 on the board for just one wicket. Then the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion. Last (3-37) and Lipton (3-39) tore through the middle order reducing Whitchurch to 130-8 in a scant 10 overs. A bit of scrabbling around at the end took the total to 145 but Whitchurch went into tea wondering what had happened. Fourteen unused overs were left on the field and came back to haunt them in the second half.

In reply Barton quickly lost a wicket to Sambells (3-42) but Latham (11) and Porter (51) brought some order. Dropping Porter early in his innings did not help the cause. At 46-1 with plenty of overs in hand it was Barton’s turn to feel comfortable. Then Barton had a middle order collapse. Potts (3-21) and Poole (2-17) caused the damage reducing Barton to 131-7.

Suddenly the game was wide open; the batsmen did not look secure and the bowlers were firing. Over 50 extras did not help the visitors’ cause and the last batsmen managed to snick the ball to the boundary giving Barton the victory by one wicket.

 n Whitchurch fixtures: Saturday, Whitchurch firsts are home to Paignton; Sunday, Hodge Cup; Tuesday Evening League away to Bridestowe.