Devon D WestWhitchurch Wayfarers v Plymouth secondsIT was back to earth with a bump for Whitchurch. After a sterling performance against Torquay seconds the week before Plymouth seconds proved a step too far.

Further woes were added as both Josh Towl and Josh Vernon picked up injuries during the game.

Put into bat Whitchurch openers Ben Powell (18) and Towl (47) continued their good form with an opening stand of 38. While Towl played with authority the middle order struggled against tight bowling. 60 for 1 became 72-4 as Plymouth turned the screw, Carlisle (3 for 38) doing most of the damage. Gibbs (29) helped the total along as the home side limped through to 194, missing out on a vital final batting point.

In reply Sambells (1-33) and Towl (1-25) helped peg Plymouth to 40-2.  Talbot (32) and Luffman (36) took the game away from Whitchurch with a stand of 86. Meadows (2-46) and Potts (2-28) had some success later on but the damage had been done and Plymouth went over the finishing line with 14 overs to spare. Worse, Towl suffered an injury to his hand taking a catch and Vernon pulled up in his second over adding to Ben Powell’s selection problems for the coming week.