Devon C West

Whitcurch firsts v Babbacombe

WHITCHURCH suffered their third defeat of the season at home to Babbacombe in a one sided affair. Babbacombe won the toss and put the home side into bat pm a flat pitch. Wayfarers started well as Ben Powell and Kevin Jacobs put on 32 for the first wicket until Jacobs was bowled by Fryers (2-32) for 2 to a ball that kept low.

However, it was downhill from there on as Whitchurch lost wickets at regular intervals with Billy Barriball the only player to spend time at the crease as he made a superb 79, batting mostly with the lower order.

Whitchurch's tail wagged to take the home side to 175 all out but they knew they were at least 50 runs short and would have to bowl exceptionally well to come away with a win.

Babbacombe set about their run chase in poor fashion as Kerswell (2-21) dismissed both openers for low scores and Poole (1-29) picked up Kingdon with just 8 to his name in his superb spell. However Broad and Pugh batted at a good tempo and took away any hopes that Whitchurch might have had and although Bone (1-38) picked up the wicket of Broad for 31 it was too little too late for the home side. Pugh knocked off the winning runs with 14 overs left for the loss of just four wickets. Pugh finished 60 not out in what was a match winning innings.

Babbacombe picked up 20 points with the victory, leaving the home side with just six as they start to slip down the league.

n On Saturday Whitchurch are away to Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough.