Devon seconds F (West)

Whitchurch v Shaldon Optimists

WHITCHURCH fielded a very inexperienced team against high flying Shaldon.

When Shaldon won the toss and elected to bat it looked like being a long, hot afternoon in the field for the Whitchurch boys.

Joe and Dan Woolnough put on 78 for the first wicket, but took a long time to do so, allowing Whitchurch to get through their overs.

All the bowlers exceeded expectations and were well backed up in the field.

With Shaldon having scored fewer than expected, wickets fell as they tried to post a challenging total. Vernon, Tilsley and Andy Hall had a wicket each.

Tamblin then ripped through the middle order, as the spin on a dry pitch did for the Shaldon batting.

U13 Aiden Hall showed his promise with 3-30 while Tamblin finished off the innings with 4-37. Shaldon were all out for 228, which would normally be a gettable total at Whitchurch.

Whitchurch's inexperience was exposed in their batting order. They needed certain players to carry the rest, but lost three wickets in the first three overs and not long after were 15-4 — two wickets apiece to Starling and Swift.

Tamblin and Vernon then batted in partnership, to gain respectability. On a fast outfield the runs flowed. Vernon completing another half century. With half the overs to go and 130 more needed, Whitchurch began to think an improbable win was possible.

Tamblin departed for 30, with Vernon perishing soon after for 54.

It was then only a matter of time, but Tilsley and Mark Webber – playing his first ever game of cricket – took the final total to 121 all out.

Whitchurch took six points from the game, but most of all gave a good account of themselves.