Semi Finals: Whitchurch v Filleigh

Whitchurch 67 ao    (B.Barriball 20, H.Ashdown 4-4, S.Witheridge 2-17)

Filleigh  69-6      (J.McGovern 33*, B.Barriball 2-26, D Monga 2-8)

Filleigh won by 4 wkts

Paignton defeated Thorverton

FINAL Filleigh v Paignton

On a dry although cloudy afternoon Filleigh won the toss and decided to bowl. There was high drama with the very first ball of the match as Sam Witheridge clean bowled Ben Brown - and as Paignton skipper Ollie Higgs joined Matt Beasant they set about repairing the damage! With Witheridge and Jack McGovern operating with lively pace in the first 6 overs Beasant was patient and watchful while Higgs took every opportunity to wrest the initiative. Their running was exemplary and they took everything on offer. The fast outfield guaranteed full value for shots and if anything Filleigh fielders probably stood too deep as the batters took a lot of quick singles. When Harley Ashdown and Archie Muirhead came on as change bowlers the run rate eased but although Higgs retired in the 12th over on 31 with the score on 57 Dan Escott joined Beasant who continued in his supporting role. At drinks (15 ovs) Paignton were 76 for 1, probably just ahead of a good target score. Filleigh tried a variety of bowlers to no avail and as the score passed 100 they also failed to take a chance off Escott which would have aided their cause no end. Beasant retired for an excellent 30 in the 21st over and Filleigh's problems were compounded as Will Castleton joined Escott and they seriously set about putting bat to ball. Escott (32) retired in the 27th and Matt Hodgson joined Castleton. It was more of the same and although Anghus Millar caught Hodgson off Emily Ward for 19, the score was now past 150. Jordan Burnett joined Hodgson for the last three overs with more lusty blows and quick running. Filleigh fielded like tigers and did pick up a runout in the last over, but Paignton's massive total of 173-3 was impressive and imposing.

Will Osborne and Macaulay Harrison-Hooton opened up for Filleigh and were immediately up against some tight and effective bowling from Castleton and Burnett. Castleton's first two overs were maidens and when Higgs caught Osborne off Burnett in the 4th Filleigh only had 3 on the board. Burnett's next victim was Harrison-Hooton, lbw with the score on 16. Higgs and Hodgson came on at first change for Paignton and conceded only 1 run between them in the next four overs. Higgs picked up 2 wickets in this period as well, bowling first McGovern and then Muirhead. When Dan Wolfie bowled Ashdown in the 11th over Filleigh were at their lowest point in the match at 20-5. Sammy Keighley joined Witheridge and they set about restoring some pride for the North Devon side. Their partnership flourished with a mixture of good shots and sharp running, ably assisted by Mr Extras. At drinks the score was up to 46-5, and it took the return of Burnett in the 21st over to finally bring Witheridge's knock to an end for 21. They'd got the score up to 75-6 but Keighley watched as Paignton's front line bowlers, with one eye on the deteriorating weather, nipped wickets out at the other end. Burnett bowled Caolan Millar to take his 4th wicket, Higgs bowled Niall Watkins and Castleton bowled Anghus Millar to bring the score to 87-9 in the 25th over. By now very fine drizzle had started and Filleigh's last pair Emily Ward and Keighley were anxious to get their side's score up to 3 figures, whilst Paignton's bowlers and fielders were just anxious - to beat the rain!!.

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