Whimple face ‘day of destiny’ against Cully on Saturday

Whimple face their ‘day of destiny’ in terms of their bid to land the Tolchards Drinks C Division title when they host Cullompton on Saturday.

Whimple go into the meeting with the table-topping Mid Devon side trailing them by 23 points, knowing that only a home win will keep their own title hopes alive.

The villagers go into the game in good form after a thrilling single wicket win over Uplyme and Lyme Regis in a game reduced to 35 overs by the Saturday rain that wiped out much of the Devon league programme.

Hosts Uplyme were invited to bat first and Simon Harris struck immediately courtesy of a Leigh Lorenzen catch to leave Uplyme 4-1. A leg before decision for Steve Hathaway and a second Harris wicket – this time with Kevin Thompson the catcher, the first of three for him in the game – and Uplyme were 76-3.

Skipper Ben Silk held a catch off the bowling of Matt Brown to see Uplyme four down with 82 runs on the board before the fifth wicket partnership between Steve Batey (40) and Tyler Wellman (23) gave the home innings some much-needed impetus, taking it to 140-5. Two quick wickets for Matt Richards and one for Lorenzen completed the wicket taking for Whimple as Uplyme closed on 189-8 after their 35 overs.

Whimple found batting just as tough and had half their side back in the pavilion with only 65 runs on the board as Harry Felgate and James Whetlor each bagged a brace of wickets and Sam Wooster also struck.

However, crucially, for Whimple, Australian star Leigh Lorenzen was still at the wicket and he stayed there through to the end at which point he was unbeaten on 98.

Batting with him at the death was number 11 Matt Richards (2no) as Whimple edged home to win by one wicket with 10 deliveries of the contest remaining.

Whetlor topped the home bowling with figures of 3-38 from seven overs.