Devon C West

Babbacombe v Whitchurch firsts

WHITCHURCH were unlucky to be on the losing side in their clash with Babbacombe. 

The home side won the toss and elected to bat on what looked a very dry pitch. Babbacombe lost an early wicket when Beech was caught off the bowling of Poole (2-27). After that Whitchurch struggled to get wickets but Barriball and Kerswill kept it tight with the home side 97 for 1 after 30 overs.

It was a bowling change that made the difference for Whitchurch with Bone bowling the spell of his life picking up 7-19 in his nine overs, including a hat-trick to put Whitchurch in a commanding position as the hosts finished on 136-9 after their 45 overs. Whitchurch backed themselves to knock the runs off.

Things, however, did not quite go to plan for the Wayfarers though, as they lost their top three for single figures with Goodwin (3-34) picking up openers Bone for 6 and Barriball for 3.

Charlie Barriball dug deep as he made 16 but nailed a full toss straight to Goodwin, who took a good catch off the bowling of Bates (2-22).

In a low scoring game Whitchurch’s middle order all made starts but could not cash in.

Kerswill and Cotter, who was on debut, put together a crucial partnership and looked like they had won the game for the away side. However, Cotter then fell victim to Goodwin for his third wicket and Whitchurch were now seven wickets down but with Kerswill at the crease they always felt they had more than a chance.

Mcrae fell for a duck but Poole stuck with Kerswill who was holding everything together. He was finally out lbw off the bowling of Pugh (2-12) with his team needing just nine runs to win and Pugh picked up the final wicket with his very next ball, giving Babbacombe the win in what was a nail-biting game.

Whitchurch picked up six points but will feel they should had got a lot more after the position they found themselves in, whilst the home side picked up 17 points.