Devon Cricket Board - Whalley makes an impact

Whalley makes an impact

IAN Whalley made an instant impact on his 1st XI call-up with a five-wicket haul as Plymstock thrashed Stoke Gabriel by six wickets.

Struggling Stoke, who are propping up the B Division, were shot out for 82 by Whalley and Dave Orchard.

Stoke were 59 for one when Mark Gilmour got out for18 – and promptly collapsed in a heap.

Without a generous leavening of 23 extras they would not have reached 82.

Whalley took five for 15 and Orchard three for seven.

Stoke were even more generous with the extras – gifting 28 which left the Plymstock batters little to do! Whalley was there at the end on 14 not out.

Skipper James Nichols said he had been trying to lure Whalley away from the 2nd XI for a while and hoped a taste of the 1st XI would leave him wanting more.

“I said he was a potential match winner – and that’s what he did,” said Nichols.

Plymstock won’t have many earlier finishes this season as they were on the way home inside 40 overs.

“On an up and down pitch Stoke came out playing big shots from the start and it was only going to end one way,” said Nichols.

“Had we not put down a load of catches they would not have reached 50.

“We did what we had to do but are well aware there will be tougher challenges to come.”

Stoke captain Gilmour was highly critical of the batsmen who threw their wickets away when some application might have made a difference.

“Sixty for one to 82 all out is unacceptable in cricket,” said Gilmour.

“We knew what we wanted to do and we probably would have won the game with another 82 runs more on a very poor deck.

“No excuses for the shots we played thought and it's back to the drawing board to how we approach a tough task next week in Tavistock.”

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