The 2nd XI moved 15 points clear of second bottom Ottery St Mary II after a 72-run win over Braunton 2nds at Kensham Park (and the matchball sponsors for both 2nd XI and 1st XI balls today were DAVE ‘DIGGER’ PENBERTHY and CHARLIE STAFFORD – as ever, our sincere thanks go to the ball sponsors who provide superb support).
It was ‘skipper-for-the-day’ Thom Bunker who set up the win as he hit a superb 77-ball, dozen boundary (nine 4s and three 6s) 86 to help propel the side to 247 and then an equally superb individual contribution from Ryan Shrewsberry, who returned the remarkable figures of four wickets for just six runs from seven overs (only two runs came off the bat – the other four runs conceded came from wides) as Braunton slipped from 109-4 after 25 overs, to 175 all out after 42.
Mind you, it was not just the Bunker-and-Shrewsberry show – far from it for the home innings also saw a ‘seasons best’ from two batsmen – 20 from Jason Dowrick and an unbeaten 22 from Liam Reed – as well as two ‘new seasons bests’ in terms of partnerships – 41 for the sixth wicket by Jason Dowrick and Thom Bunker and then 33 for the unbroken ninth wicket by Liam Reed and James Mills.
After losing the toss and being invited to bat, Bunker lost fellow opener Will Birley for six, with the score then 11-1 – Birley falling to a caught and bowled by Mark Johnson.
Connor Carthew was next in – and out – bowled by Ed Holmes for 10 to leave Ninch, 56-2.
Dave Penberthy was then bowled by Johnson for 10 to leave the score 71-3 and it was soon 107-4 with the loss of Josh Richards, trapped leg before wicket by Holmes, but not before he had hit a quick-fire 21-ball 23.
Ryan Shrewsberry was in at six and he became the fifth wicket when he was bowled by Andrew Jones for 12 to leave Ninch 136-5, but, and crucially to the end total, Bunker was still there on 61 – his half century coming up in 50 deliveries.
Bunker was joined by number seven Jason Dowrick and the latter passed his previous best of the season – 19 – but, when on 20, he was bowled by Jones, but not before he had helped take Ninch t0 177-7.
A fabulous Thom Bunker knock ended when the opener was bowled by opposite number James Kemp – Bunker trooping back to great ovation from the biggest turnout to date this season for a 2nd XI fixture. Bunker had faced 77 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes.
With the opener finally dismissed, Ninch were 192-7 and still needing eight runs to bank the maximum batting points.
In recent matches the ‘tail’ has begun as early as batsman six, but today saw the 2nd XI field arguably their strongest batting eleven of the season and, juts one more wicket was lost as the 200 was reached with consummate ease.
Nick Acton’s wicket was the last one lost, but not before he had hit a six in a 14-ball cameo that saw him score 10.
That left number 10 bat James Mills to join Liam ‘Leroy’ Reed in what proved to be a superb unbroken ninth wicket partnership. Mills ended not out 25 from just 15 balls faced (he hit three fours), while Reed was unbeaten on 22 from 25 deliveries (‘Leroy’ hitting two fours), and Bradninch closed their 45 overs on 247-8.
For Braunton, the bowling honours were shared with four of the seven bowlers to see action each claiming two wickets.
Mark Johnson finished with the best of the figures, 2-21 from nine while both Andrew Jones and James Kemp had figures of 2-33, Jones from a full shift of nine overs while skipper Kemp sent down five. Edward Holmes, with 2-44 from nine overs was the other successful bowler and the remaining returns were Julian Lambert (0-23 from two), Gary Osbourne (0-25 from two) and Philip James (0-52 from nine).
The Braunton reply was launched by Eddie Holmes and Nigel Cross but, with 14 runs on the board, Ryan Shrewsberry held a return catch off his own bowling to send Holmes back with just one to his name.
Andy Paddison joined Cross, but the latter was adjudged leg before wicket to a delivery from James Mills and returned to the Pavlion without troubling the scorers.
It was soon 21-3 with Thom Bunker holding a catch to give Shrewsberry a second wicket – this one to send back Matt Jenkins for four.
Andy Wood joined Cross and the pair doubled the Braunton total, taking them to 46 when Liam Reed held a catch off the bowling of Thom Bunker to end the Cross innings; the Braunton opener sent back with 27 to his name.
James Kemp and Andy Wood then added 63 for the fifth wicket which fell with the score on 109; Kemp being run out at the non-strikers end when the ball caught the hand of bowler Josh Richards and knocked the stumps down!
Eight runs later it was 117-6 with Andy Wood bowled by a fine delivery from Mark Perrott and just a dozen further runs were scored before Braunton lost their seventh wicket – this one being Mark Johnson, bowled by Josh Richards for five.
Phil James fell next, caught by Nick Acton to give Liam Reed a wicket and that all left Braunton 146-8.
The ninth wicket added 28 and took the score to 174 when Shrewsberry, brought back into the attack to send down his seventh over – the 42nd of the innings – bagged a third wicket with Reed claiming his second catch and three deliveries later it was all over and, fittingly it was the game’s two ‘star’ performers who combined with Thom Bunker holding a catch to see Shrewsberry claim a fourth wicket to return those remarkable figures of 4-6 from seven overs!
It all left Braunton bowled out for 175 in exactly 42 overs.
In support of those wonderful Shrew figures, the best of the rest was the 1-35 from eight overs sent down by James Mills and the other Ninch bowling returns were: Josh Richards (1-14 from five), Liam Reed (1-15 from four), Thom Bunker (1-28 from four) and Mark Perrott (1-43 from nine). The seventh bowler was Nick Acton who sent down five overs for his return of 0-31.