As is 3rd team custom, the team arrived at their home ground long after the away side, to find the 9 men and 1 woman of Whitchurch present but complaining loudly at the lack of changing rooms at Harberton. D&T were put in to bat on an incredibly flat track, with not a cloud in the sky, the Whitchurch captain presumably thinking the strong wind would provide his opening bowlers with some assistance. And at first, this seemed to be a good decision, with the opening pair of Vernon and Griffin reducing D&T to 21-3. This was as good as it got for the bowlers, however, with 4th wicket pair Darren Colgate and Charlie Life putting on 92. During this partnership, the talismanic Colgate suffered a serious hamstring injury, and had to play out the rest of his innings with Sam Gornall as his runner, which doubtless hindered his ability to push the 2s and the 3s. Life was run out by ‘Darren’ on 38, and this brought Jack Johansen to the crease, on 3rd team debut. Johansen proceeded to smash the attack to all parts, putting on 88 with Colgate inside 10 overs, but was eventually bowled by Josh Vernon for 60, with the score on 201. There was then a minor collapse, with Will King (0) and Darren Rowe (4) both being bowled. This brought skipper Josh Thomas to the crease, who scored a quick 30 not out, to push the score to 269. Colgate was eventually caught off the very last ball of the innings for 89.
Post-tea, Thomas opened the bowling with Will King, both of whom bowled 8 over spells. King went wicketless for 31, but Thomas removed both openers, Dunne caught by Sorrel Fairlove for 4, and Elliot caught and bowled for 21. Rowe and Matt Hartridge replaced the two opening bowlers, but Dougie and Josh Vernon added 144 for the 3rd wicket. Hartridge went wicketless for 39 off his 6 overs, despite a strong LBW shout in his last over. Life replaced Hartridge, but the batting pair continued to increase their partnership, Josh Vernon hitting a number of huge sixes on the leg side. Life beat the bat several times, but it was Rowe who made the breakthrough in his final over, getting Josh Vernon LBW for 67, on his way to figures of 13 overs, 1-34. Fairlove (0-8 from two) replaced Rowe, and Thomas (3-41 from twelve) came back on for Life (0-26 from five), to take the wicket of Dougie Vernon for 69, to claim to 2nd bowling point in the final over. It was not enough, however, as Whitchurch made 206-4 from their 46, claiming the losing draw and 11 points, to D&Ts 13.
For 26.5.12 DandT v WhitchurchScorecard click link