Devon D West

Exwick v Whitchurch firsts

THE Whitchurch Wayfarers first team travelled to Exwick hoping to carry on their recent form and make it three wins in a row.

Powell won the toss and decided to have a bowl on a wonderful summer’s day. The hosts got off to a steady start, Poole (0 for 49) and Sambells (1-21) keeping things tight but not finding that elusive wicket. It took a change in bowler as Meadows (2-45) bowled Rose for 28 with the score on 47.

The next wicket fell shortly after as Towl (3-41) bowled Calderhead for 21. Another change in bowling bought three more wickets as Hodge got the wicket of Pascoe thanks to a good catch from Northey. Towl then got Priddle thanks to an excellent one handed catch from Meadows in the slips. Hodge then bowled Rose as the host fell to 89-6 from 83-3.

Machin and Nicholas Rose came to the crease and batted aggressively. Riding their luck a bit they put on 70 for the seventh wicket.  Before Machin was eventually bowled by Towl for 37 he had been dropped three times. With the score now on 169-7 Exwick looked like they could get a defendable total.

Nicholas Rose stuck around and was supported by Caryl in putting on another 37 runs. The last three wickets fell in the space of 12 runs with Hodge (4-33) picking up two of them and Sambells picking up a deserved wicket. At tea Exwick had achieved 218 with extras top scoring on 57.

Towl and Powell opened the batting for Whitchurch and started at a steady pace putting on 38 for the first wicket before Powell was caught at point for seven off the bowling of Machin (1-48).

Hall joined Towl and the pair were finding the boundary at regular points as Towl reached his fifty. Towl continued to play his shots and was supported by Hall putting on 104 for the second wicket. Without playing any rash shots and with intuitive running between the wickets the pair started to take the game away from Exwick. Hall was eventually caught at cover for 37 off the bowling of Nicholas Rose (3-33).

With 87 runs still to get the game was far from won. Meadows came to the crease but was gone for five as Rose picked up another wicket. Barriball joined Towl, finding the rope with his first ball. Towl bought up his maiden hundred with a four, a fine knock forming the centre piece of the innings. Barriball fell for eight as he was caught at cover off the bowling of Rose again. With wickets falling regularly the nerves were jangling.

Wallace was in and out for six as he was caught for six with the score at 183 with Whitchurch still needing 45 off 9 overs and just four wickets in hand.

Dan Poole (10) joined Towl in the middle and straight batted his first two deliveries, followed by a commanding straight drive. Towl summoned up a final burst of energy and hit a string of boundaries to all parts seeing Whitchurch home with the four wickets in hand. Towl’s inning of 143 not out was simply an outstanding knock giving barely a chance to the opposition.

There was warm applause from players of both sides in acknowledgement of a fine innings. 

Whitchurch win.