Devon seconds D West

Plymouth fourths v Whitchurch seconds

WHITCHURCH seconds made the short journey to Plymouth fourths for what was effectively a third place play off.

The start was delayed, reducing the game to 37 overs a side.

When the coin went up, Wayfarer captain Andy Wallace had little hesitation in asking the hosts to bat first on a drying wicket.

Sambells and Northey kept things tight, beating the bat, but not getting the rewards. Tamblin then continued in the same vein, being miserly with run scoring balls, as Plymouth limped to 39-1 at the halfway stage. Tamblin (2-12) got the breakthrough removing Lewis Edmonds and then his brother Luke.

All the Plymouth players struggled to find any rhythm with the exception of number eight, Phil Taylor. He launched the ball out of the ground several times on his way to 45 not out. Fortunately for Whitchurch he had not batted higher up the order.

Wickets fell at the other end though, with Marshall (2-23) and

Webber (2-49). Northey returned at the death to pick up a further couple of scalps finishing with 3-31.

A total of 151 should have been gettable. However, Whitchurch made a poor start losing Hodge and Webber with only four on the board. Credicott stuck around and made 25, before becoming Parsons’ fourth dismissal behind the stumps.

With the clouds threatening, Whitchurch chased the minimum target of 84 off 20 overs to constitute a game. However, as Powell departed the rain came. Soon after, stumps were drawn and the match abandoned.