Bradninch & Kentisbeare 3rd XI batter Rich Norman was denied the clubs first Devon League century of the 2024 campaign when rain hit Kensham Park to wash out the remainder of the contest against Shobrooke Park 2nd XI.
B&K skipper Liam Reed lost the toss and asked his openers to pad up and the pair, Chris Gillett and Rich Norman took the score to 100 before the first wicket fell – that being a leg before decision that ended the Gillett knock with him just three runs shy of a deserved half century – out for an eight boundary 44-ball 47.
Norman was joined by number three bat Tim Percival and the pair bettered that opening partnership by a dozen runs, taking the score to 213 when Percival was out for a 47-ball 52, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
Josh Richards joined Norman and he was on three when the rain finally forced the players off the pitch with B&K sitting pretty on 222-2 after 29 overs, and the game was ultimately abandoned.
For opener Norman, it was a case of ‘so nearly a ton’ as he came off in the rain with an unbeaten 94 to his name, scored off 96 balls, hitting a dozen fours.