Today we focus on the 2022 season that was endured by the BCC 2nd XI, one that ended in them slipping down to the seventh tier of Tolchards Devon League Cricket.
The campaign may have ended in relegation from the E Division East, but it began on a high when, in their opening game, they claimed the scalp of a Kentisbeare 1st XI side that had, the previous season, been plying their trade in D Division East.
Three wickets for skipper Chris Acton and also Ankit Badwal, saw the Kents bowled out for 226 in 43.1 overs and that figure was mastered thanks to Paul Nott’s half century and contributions of 30 plus from the rest of the top four, saw the side to a six wicket win with over seven overs still to be bowled. Matchday two saw an even better run chase as Honiton 1st XI’s 245-7 was passed with consummate ease thanks to an unbeaten 120 from Ankit Badwal who drilled 15 fours and rifled five sixes as Ninch romped to an eight wicket win.
Matchday three brought a 123-run defeat at home to Woodbury & Newton St Cyres 1st XI to a close of 237-4. A knock of 29 from James Mills was the highest home score on the day.
Matchday four involved a trip up to Braunton 2nds where, batting first, 92, from Sam Franks, 91, from Ankit Badwal plus knocks of 73 from both Will Birley and Dave Penberthy saw Ninch to a huge score of 357-5 which the home side could only answer with 262-8 – three wickets for Sam Franks.
Matchday five saw three wins from four become four wins from five as North Devon III could not raise a team for their trip down the Link Road.
Matchday six took the team to the splendid facility that is the home of Exeter University CC for a meeting with high-flying Topsham St James and, as seems to always be the case when a Ninch 2nd XI meet the Tops – it ended in defeat with Josh Richards’ knock of 31 the top score in an all out total of 99. It was all over by 4.35pm with the home side sealing a nine-wicket win.
Matchday seven was a rain-hit home fixture against Ottery St Mary half centuries from Connor Carthew and Paul Nott saw Ninch to an all-out total of 243 and the Otters were 85-2 after 16 overs when the rain washed out any chance of a result.
Matchday eight saw the club without 23 players for the two club league fixtures and so a much-changed Ninch 2nds journeyed to Newton Poppleford where they suffered a five-wicket defeat. Connor Carthew was run out just four runs short of a century in a Ninch total of 185-9. Matt Jarrett then took a brace of wickets as the home side got home with 15 overs to spare.
Matchday nine saw the halfway mark reached in the league campaign and, after bowling out table-topping Thorverton II for just 120 – Will Birley claiming figures 4-19 – Ninch were bowled out for 113 in 36 overs and four balls, and left to rue the fact that the losing margin was one of seven runs – and Ninch sent down no fewer than 29 wides!
Matchday 10 involved the short trip across to Kentisbeare where the home side, on a scorching hot day, won the toss, batted first, and chalked up a whopping total of 359-8. Ankit Badwal was the pick of the Ninch bowlers with a return of 4-24. Dave Penberthy then hit 75 as Ninch were bowled out for 181 to lose by a huge margin of 178 runs.
Matchday 11 was a home meeting with Honiton and, after being bowled out for 138 – Dave Penberthy top scoring with 41 – Will Birley (25) and James Mills (19) were the only other batters into double figures, the visitors claimed a three wicket win despite three wicket hauls for both James Mills and Liam Reed.
Matchday 12 was a trip to Woodbury where, batting first, 83 from Sam Franks and 49 from Paul Nott, saw Ninch to 234-9. The home side were then bowled out for 181 thanks to a six wicket haul for Thom Bunker (6-27).
Braunton were at Bradninch on Matchday 13 and, after the home side scored 247-8 – Thom Bunker top scoring with 86 – the visitors were bowled out for 175 with Ryan Shrewsberry returning the remarkable figures of 4-6 from seven overs.
Matchday 14 took the side on the long trek to Westleigh to meet North Devon III where, against a team without a win all season and rock bottom, hopes were high of recording a sixth win of the season. Alas, it was not to be for the home side batted first and chalked up an imposing 293-6 – Paul Nott claiming two wickets, before Ninch were bowled out for 125 with Thom Bunker (57), Paul Nott (24) and Chris Acton (12no) recording the only scores in double figures.
Matchday 15 saw an eight wicket home humbling at the hands of Topsham St James. Ninch batted first and, thanks to 98 from Chris Acton, 48 from Thom Bunker, 28, from Will Birley and 27 from number 10 bat Mark Perrott, Ninch posted an all-out total of 270. However, the Tops sailed home inside 42 overs.
Matchday 16 saw another defeat as hosts Ottery batted first and were bowled out for 242 – Nick Acton claiming four wickets and Ben Franks taking three. Sam Franks then top scored with 56 – bravely returning to bat after being hit on the grill of the helmet that subsequently led to a broken cheek bone! Ninch were all out for 175 despite Sams heroics.
Matchday 17, the final home game of the season, saw Ninch involved in a ‘must-win’ contest with Sidmouth, a game that would surely consign the losers to relegation. Sidmouth batted first and scored 217-9 – three wickets for both Josh Richards and Mark Perrott. Ninch were then restricted to 212-8 to lose by five runs – and again the wide count was high – 28 sent down by the Ninch bowlers to the 18 delivered by Sidmouth. Nick Acton (45no) and Paul Nott (45) were the principle scorers for beaten Ninch.
Matchday 18 and the last game of the season. It was again a ‘must-win’ for Ninch, though, they also needed favourable results elsewhere. On a day when inclement weather threatened, hosts Thorverton 2nds, who needed a single point to be crowned champions of the E Division East batted first and wrapped the title up inside eight overs. They then went onto post a healthy total of 240-3 before then bowling Ninch 2nds out for 118 in 25 overs and four balls.
The BCC 2nd XI stats from the 2022 E Division East campaign
A total of 38 players turned out in one or more 2nd XI games in the league season.
INDIVIDUAL APPEARANCES (maximum of 17)
15 William Birley
13 Ryan Shrewsberry
12 Paul Nott and Nick Acton
11 Liam Reed
10 Chris Acton, James Mills and Dave Penberthy
8 Mark Perrott and Jason Dowrick
7 Johnny Reed
6 Thom Bunker, Ankit Badwal, Josh Richards, Connor Carthew and Derrick Foan
4 Ross Lawson, Bobby Marsh, Sam Franks and Pete Harmer
3 Jovi Jenkins and Jordan Biss
2 Vinny Clark
1 Bryn Jones, Jack Horton, Ben Franks, Will Squire, Paul Bastin, Oli Hardy, Pete Hardy
Tom Hardy, Max Cooper, Matt Jarrett, Steve Bishop, Andy Hartley, Charlie Crooke
Steve Paul and Lewis Rhodes
INDIVIDUAL RUN SCORING (average in brackets)
324 Will Birley (21.60)
278 Paul Nott (23.17)
276 Ankit Badwal (55.20)
267 Sam Franks (89.00)
265 Dave Penberthy (38.57)
227 Thom Bunker (37.83)
181 Connor Carthew (30.33)
167 Chris Acton (27.83)
146 Nick Acton (14.60)
141 James Mills (15.67)
115 Ryan Shrewsberry (12.78)
96 Josh Richards (19.20)
69 Liam Reed (11.50)
63 Jason Dowrick (9.00)
35 Derrick Foan (7.00)
30 Bobby Marsh (10.00)
28 Mark Perrott (7.00)
27 Jordan Biss (9.00)
26 Ross Lawson (8.67)
18 Charlie Crooke (16.00)
16 Max Cooper (15.00) and Vinny Clark
14 Ben Franks (14.00)
13 Andy Hartley (13.00)
12 Pete Harmer (6.00)
11 Jack Horton (11.00)
10 Bryn Jones (10.00) and Johnny Reed (3.33)
6 Lewis Rhodes (6.00), Tom Hardy (6.00) and Matt Jarrett (6.00)
5 Pete Hardy (5.00) and Will Squire (5.00)
3 Jovi Jenkins (1.50)
1 Steve Paul (1.00)
BOWLING – wickets taken with bowling stats in brackets (overs/maidens/runs/wkts)
Individual stats from top wicket taker down
13 Ryan Shrewsberry (78.3/4/445/13 – average 34.23)
11 Chris Acton (64.1/7/296/11 – average 26.91)
10 Ankit Badwal (47.5/5/219/10 – average 21.90)
9 Nick Acton (68.4/1/406/9 – average 45.11
9 Paul Nott (80/17/271/9 – average 30.11
8 Will Birley (36/2/242/8 – average 30.13)
8 James Mills (74/5/314/8 – average 39.25)
7 Thom Bunker (28.2/3/159/7 – average 22.71)
7 Mark Perrott (57.1/2/346/7 – average 49.43)
6 Liam Reed (26/2/127/6 – average 21.17)
5 Sam Franks (24/2/128/5 – average 25.60)
4 Josh Richards (23/2/126/4 – average 31.50
3 Ben Franks (8.5/0/32/3 – average 10.67)
CATCHES
7 Dave Penberthy (all as keeper plus one stumping)
5 Connor Carthew (2 as keeper and 3 outfield)
5 Liam Reed
4 Jason Dowrick, Chris Acton, Thom Bunker and Paul Nott
3 Will Birley and Mark Perrott
2 Ankit Badwal, Ross Lawson and Bryn Jones (plus 1 stumping)