The 2022 Tolchards Devon Cricket League campaign is now at the ‘two-thirds-completed’ stage and the BCC 1st XI sit FIFTH in the 10-team Premier Division.
In terms of the points banked, Ninch have 150 which sees them sit 15 points adrift of second placed Sandford and 33 points fewer than leaders North Devon – and Gary Chappell and his men have to meet both the top two in their remaining six games – travelling to Creedy Park to meet Sandford this coming Saturday (July 30) and hosting North Devon on August 20.
The Ninch points total of 150 is 33 more than basement side Hatherleigh and 24 greater than second bottom Plymouth – who they also meet in the run-in, travelling to Plymouth on the penultimate matchday of the campaign (August 27).
The other two games left for ‘Chaps’ and his merry men is the August 6th visit to Kensham Park of Bovey Tracey and the following matchday (August 13), Ninch are at Sidmouth.
So, what about the individual statistics at this stage of the season with 12 games played and six to play.
BATTING
In terms of league runs scored in the 1st XI the leading run scorers are; 371 – Gary Chappell; 320 – Tim Piper; 259 – Ross Acton and 197 – Mitchell Pugh.
In terms of the best ‘average’, the top four are: 45.71 – Tim Piper; 39.40 – Mitchell Pugh, 37.10 – Gary Chappell and 37.00 – Ross Acton
BOWLING
Sis players have taken five or more wickets in the league campaign so far: 21 – Gary Chappell; 14 – Mitchell Pugh; 12 – Josh Farley; 11 – Ross Acton; 10 – Chad Classen and 6 – Eliot Acton.
The Bradninch 2nd XI sit third bottom of the E Division East table with 12 games completed and six still to play.
The Ninch 2nd XI are currently 13 points clear of the relegation zone – Ninch have 143 points and that’s 13 more than Ottery St Mary (130) and basement dwellers North Devon III (44 points). Looking further up the table, the Ninch 2nd XI are a point behind seventh placed Kentisbeare, 10 worse off than sixth placed Braunton (who Ninch 2nds host this coming Saturday (July 30), 11 points less than fifth placed Woodbury & Newton St Cyres, and just 14 points shy of Sidmouth III who sit fourth.
The top two in the E Division look as if they have the two promotion slots booked with Thorverton 2nds – despite losing this past weekend to Braunton 2nds, top with 211 points while Topsham St James are second with 203. Honiton occupy third place, but they sit 31 points shy of the Tops!
The last six games for the 2nd XI are – July 30th, home to Braunton II, August 6th, away to North Devon III; August 13, home to Topsham St James, August 20, away to Ottery St Mary II, August 27th at home to Sidmouth III and finally, Saturday, September 3, away to Thorverton II.
2nd XI BATTING
Five players have now hit 200 runs or more in the season to date. The five are: 276 – Ankit Badwal (49.00); 257 – Will Birley (25.70), 256 – Dave Penberthy (51.20), 216 – Paul Nott (27.00) and 211 – Sam Franks (105.50).
The figures shown in brackets are the current average for each of the five batsmen to score 200 or more runs.
2nd XI Bowling: Eight players have taken five or more wickets for the 2nd XI: 10 – Ankit Badwal, 8 – Chris Acton and Ryan Shrewsberry; 7 – James Mills; 6 – Will Birley and Thom Bunker; 5 – Liam Reed and Sam Franks.