Devon C West

Whitchurch

WHITCHURCH travelled to Kingsbridge looking for their first win of the season in their second game.

The pitch was slow and low and when Barriball lost the toss the away side were put in to bat. The slow conditions seemed tough for the Whitchurch batsmen as Powell chipped to captain De Silva at mid off from the bowling of Peach (1-22).

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals with Charlie Barriball, Sherrell, Elliot and Bone all losing their wickets leaving the Wayfarers 31 for 5.

Billy Barriball took his time to get in and played a captain's innings reaching 45 in a crucial partnership with Ewan Smith (31). The pair took Whitchurch to 100 before Kingsbridge captain De Silva (5-33) brought himself back into the attack, dismissing both of them in quick succession.

Nigel Barriball again held the tail together and he reached 43 before being stumped off the bowling of Carr for 43. Whitchurch finished their first innings on 161 leaving a tricky chase for the home side on what was a bowling track.

The Whitchurch captain took the new ball and dismissed opening batsman Westlake and then number three Carr in his second over, both of them chipping to Smith at mid on.

Barriball (2-12) and Kerswell (0-19) kept things tight and the rate was quickly climbing for the home side.

Bone (3-17) followed in the opening bowlers' footsteps keeping the scoring to a minimum as well as picking up wickets at crucial times for the away side.

Clarke and opener Dorey offered some resistance for the sixth wicket partnership but the pair scored slowly and when Charlie Barriball ran out opener Dorey Whitchurch's tails were up.

Elliot (3-13) and debutant Northey (1-24) put the squeeze on in the last 15 overs and forced the Kingsbridge batsmen into playing some higher risk strokes. Clarke reached 40 before being bowled by Elliot for the last wicket and Whitchurch, (18 points) won the game by 48 runs.