Devon Division C West

Whitchurch firsts 

WHITCHURCH travelled to Kingsbridge for their third game of the season. Kingsbridge captain James Westlake won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a flat pitch.

The pitch, however, offered plenty for the seamers, with the new ball nipping around and the Whitchurch opening bowlers made the most of it.

Ford was the first to go after miscommunication between himself and captain Westlake, run out for two. Sambells then got Dorey caught at gully with Kerswill taking a smart catch.

Kerswill, who replaced Sambells then got a wicket of his own, trapping F Ford in front for 9. Westlake was dropped off Charlie Barriball early in his innings but he was the fourth wicket to go down, edging Bone to slip for 31.

J Berkie looked to counter attack on the Whitchurch bowlers in a partnership with Bradbury. Once Bradbury was bowled by Poole for ten the wickets began to pick up for the Wayfarers again. Berkie brought up his 50 but fell soon after, caught at long on by Charlie Barriball off the bowling of Billy, who picked up three quick wickets in his short spell to mop up the tail.

Kingsbridge finished 153 all out and Whitchurch felt in a commanding position on a pitch that had flattened out with a lightning fast outfield.

Whitchurch went out for 40 minutes before tea and were 20-0 off just three overs with openers Billy Barriball and Rob Bone able to score freely.

Barriball was then bowled for 15 by Peach with an off cutter that gripped and came back into the right-hander.

Credicott and Bone steadied the ship for Whitchurch and saw them through to tea on 60-1 with the game in their control.

The tea break seemed to affect Whitchurch, though; Credicott went shortly after for 14 with Ford taking a superb catch at square leg. Charlie Barriball came to the crease and looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck. He took 23 from five balls before falling to Pike on the last ball of the over.  Bone then fell on 33 as a leading edge off Bradbury’s first ball looped straight to extra cover. 

Whitchurch were 108-4 when Bone fell and the game was still in the away side’s hands. But single figure scores from the remaining batsman and four wickets for Kingsbridge’s seventh bowler, Bradbury, meant Whitchurch collapsed to 139 all out, falling 15 runs short of their target.

Whitchurch now have back to back home games in which they will be looking to pick up as many points as possible to get themselves away from the bottom of the league.