Devon C West

Whitchurch Wayfarers

WEST Devon clubs Bridestowe, Whitchurch, Yelverton  and Chagford are all doing well in division C of the Devon Cricket League. On Saturday Whitchurch's three game winning run came to an end when they played  travelled to Chagford for this West Devon derby.

Whitchurch won the toss and decided to bat on a hard deck. The decision looked to be right with Kevin Jacobs playing a superb innings on his return to the side. The opening pair of Ken Powell and Kevin Jacobs started slowly against the Chagford pace attack of Del Lammonby and Jake Griffiths and after nine overs only nine runs were on the board. However, this proved to be a solid base as they both took advantage of the Chagford change bowlers and smashed the bowling all round the large Chagford ground.  On 98 Kevin Jacobs was well caught off the bowling of Duncan Manners-Chapman, two short of which would have been a deserved century in attractive opening stand of 181.

Whitchurch were looking at a big score. Powell then fell for 77 with the score at 201 but there was still time for Whitchurch's middle order to post a score of 270 plus. Charlie Barriball made an attractive 25 but wickets fell in the chase for quick runs against the father and son attack of Del Lammonby (2 for 29) and Will Lammonby (3 for 42) and the Whitchurch innings ended at 246-6 in their 45 overs.

With rain forecast the Chagford batsmen looked to kick on a try to get ahead of the rate by the 20th over but opener Stuart Lord fell to Poole (1-64) for six with the score at eight. At 33 James Fulner was run out for five, thanks to a superb throw by Tom Jackman; worse followed for the home team when Paul Penberthy was lbw by Kerswell for four to leave Chagford at 45-3. 

That brought to the crease Marais, who from the word go put the pressure on the Whitchurch bowlers. He found the boundary frequently. He was joined by Manners-Chapman and in a stand of 76 advanced the score to 121 before Manners-Chapman was bowled by Billy Barriball for an invaluable 27.  

Marais continued his aggressive cricket with Pete Holland  in a 115 run stand before Holland was bowled for 38 by the impressive Charlie Barriball.

It was left to Will Lammonby 10 not out and and Marais to see Chagford home by five wickets, and six overs to spare. Marais finished on a delightful and outstanding 143 not out, smashing everything that Whitchurch threw at him, with 21 fours and three sixes in his highest score for the club. Chagford took 18 points from the game whilst Whitchurch only picked up seven.