The last time BCC 1st XI played in the Devon League Premier Division….
It was the 2018 season when ‘Ninch’ last graced the top flight of Devon League cricket. That season began with a home win over Bovey Tracey and ended with an away victory at Plymouth.
The first league game of the 2018 top flight season saw Bovey Tracey visit Kensham Park for a game that took place in May 5, 2018.
Bradninch skipper Gary Chappell won the toss and invited his opposite number to bat first. It was fourth change Will Greig who took the bowling honours with his return being 3-39 from a full shift of 10 overs. The ‘best of the rest’, in terms of the bowling returns was the 2-47 from 10 overs sent down by Tendai Maruma and there were single wickets for Ross Acton, Eliot Acton and Gary Chappell as the visitors were restricted to a 50-over score of 213-8.
Rory Thomas (23 runs from 13 balls) and Tim Piper (49 off 50) gave the run chase a 42 start and, after Gary Chappell fell for seven, it was a 100-ball unbeaten 95 from Tendai Maruma that helped see Ninch to victory, though another key contribution was an unbeaten 14 ‘watchfully’ scored by Will Squire from the 52 balls faced he faced as he and Maruna saw the side home after they came together with the run chase on 125-7.
The Bradninch 1st XI for that opening day game was.
Rory Thomas, Tim Piper, Gary Chappell, Tendai Maruna, Kian Burns, Ross Acton, Eliot Acton, Will Greig, Will Squire, Bryn Jones and Leon Horn.
The 2018 season also ended with a win as Bradninch won by three wickets in a low scoring contest at Plymouth.
The home side, batting first, were rolled over for just 83 in 29 overs and one ball. Three bowlers each claimed a trio of wickets with the returns being; 3-10 from 3.1 overs sent down by Eliot Acton; 3-15 from nine overs bowled by Gary Chappell and 3-25 from a full shift of 10 overs sent down by Ross Acton. The other wicket was claimed by Kalann Nessling (1-22 from six overs).
The three-wicket win was sealed thanks to a 16-ball knock of 24 from Charlie Sheen and, just like in the opening game, there was an important supporting act with a small number of runs scored off a lengthy stay at the wicket and, on this occasion, Ross Acton was unbeaten on two from 28 balls as the winning line was crossed.
The Bradninch 1st XI for the final Premier League game of the 2018 season was.
Gary Chappell, Rory Thomas, Kian Burns, Charlie Walker, Tim Piper, Ross Acton, Leon Horne, Will Squire, Charlie Sheen, Eliot Acton and Kalann Nessling.