Matchday four of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League produced some MAGICAL MOMENTS that came out of some outstanding individual performances in both the 1st and 2nd XI.
We have to start with the genius batting of Gary Chappell and Tim Piper who shared a double century opening stand to set up a stunning run chase as the team chased down an imposing 271 scored by visiting Sandford to win by eight wickets. The visitors had lost six wickets in getting 271; both Ross Acton and Mitchell Pugh bagged a brace of wickets and there was also a wicket on debut for South African Chad Classen. In the Ninch reply; Gary Chappell faced 98 deliveries for his 109 while Tim Piper faced 118 balls for his 115 while Ross Acton hit a run-a-ball 35. The 1st XI banked 18 points for their efforts.
Up at Braunton, the Ninch 2nd XI posted a score of 350 – that is certainly a mighty rare happening for our 2nd XI – four players scored half centuries with the top score of 92 coming from Sam Franks. Ankit Badwal hit 91, Will Birley 73 and Dave ‘Digger’ Penberthy scored an unbeaten 73. There were also two huge partnerships with Birley and Badwal putting on 154 for the second wicket while Franks and Penberthy added 138 runs for the fourth. Franks then claimed three wickets and there was a brace for Ryan Shrewsberry as Braunton II closed on 262-8 in reply to the Ninch offering of 357-5. The 2nd XI banked 19 points for their efforts.