Devon E

WHITCHURCH made it back to back wins for the first time this season when they travelled to Stoke Gabriel.

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first. Whitchurch lost Bone third ball of the game when he was bowled by Ansley but Ben Powell and captain Billy Barriball put on 99 for the second wicket.

Their partnership was eventually broken when Powell fell for 37 caught off the bowling of Hicks. Billy Barriball passed 50 for the second week running though and looked in fine touch. The middle order for Whitchurch began to slip away though and when Barriball fell for a superb 92 the score was 181.

Tom Cotter highest first team score on his 17th birthday helped Whitchurch to get up beyond the 200 mark. His 31 meant Whitchurch ended their innings on 221 with 39 of those runs coming in extras.

Stoke’s run chase got off to a solid start with openers Ansley and Hicks going along nicely.

Charlie Barriball got the much-needed break through for the away side though when he got Hicks caught at cover for 25. The Wayfarers struggled to pick up wickets and the home side went into the drinks break 116 for the loss of just one wicket.

Whitchurch’s come back started after the drinks break — Meech was run out after a mix up with Ansley. Wickets began to fall at regular intervals now and when Kerswill got the big wicket of Ansley who fell for 78 the home side needed a run a ball from the last 15 overs.

Towl and Kerswill bowled excellently in the final overs under pressure but both stepped up to the task and picked up three wickets. Parker made a quick-fire 30 for Stoke but when he was bowled by Towl the result looked comfortable.

Whitchurch ended up winning by 16 runs, picking up the full 20 points and will be hoping to make it three wins in a row next week when they face Chagford at