Matchday three of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League saw the Bradninch & Kentisbeare 2nd XI have their home D Division East meeting with Upottery 1st XI at Rectory Park, Kentisbeare, abandoned with only 24 overs and three balls served up.
The game was called off shortly after 3.25pm, but, in the 145 minutes of play that was possible Upottery skipper James Mitcham slammed a superb unbeaten 68-ball 108. Such was the Mitcham dominance of proceedings that he raced from 50 to 100 in just 13 deliveries.
In all the Upottery batter slammed a dozen sixes and also rifled five fours. Indeed, Mitcham managed to slam a six of no fewer than four different bowlers!
Skipper-for-the-day Eliot Acton, leading the team in the absence of regular 2nd XI skipper Will Greig who was away watching Exeter Chiefs in action at Leicester, lost the toss and his opposite number opted to bat first. Acton opened the bowling and his first over went for just a single. He then tossed the ball to Sam Franks and he struck with his second delivery – Connot Carthew displaying safe hands to see the end of Jack Larcombe for a single. In the very next over it was suddenly 2-2 with Acton bowling Ben Kidson for a 9-balll duck. James Mitcham then strode to the wicket to join Matt Broom and, after a ‘dot’ ball, Mitcham drive his second delivery to the boundary and then, after four more dot balls he slammed the first of his sixes!
The third wicket pairing had taken the score to 86 when James Mills struck with the first ball of the 17th over to see and end to the Broom innings with the Upottery opener out for 29.
There was to be one more success for the B&K bowlers with Ankit Badwal striking in his fourth over, knocking over the stumps to send Jack Smith back without troubling the scorers. That fourth wicket fell with the score on 104.
Mitcham was unphased by the loss of his teams fourth wicket as he opened his shoulders slamming four sixes and a four off an Eliot Acton over. He also showed James Mills little mercy as he clubbed 22 – three sixes and a four – off another single over!
There was to be one more success for the B&K bowlers with Ankit Badwal striking in his fourth over, knocking over the stumps to send Jack Smith back without troubling the scorers. That fourth wicket fell with the score on 104.
Thanks to the Mitcham attack, his side were up to ‘seven-runs-per-over’ when the rain that had threatened from the ‘off’ duly arrived to ultimately wash play out.
At the premature close the visiting side were on 174-4 after 24.3 overs with the Mitcham carnage meaning that 70 runs were added for the unbroken fifth wicket in just four overs!
The B&K bowling returns were: Eliot Acton (1-54 from six), Sam Franks (1-31 from five), James Mills (1-52 from seven), Ankit Badwal (1-23 from five), Ross Acton (0-3 from one) and Billy Wakley (0-6 from one).
Bradninch & Kentisbeare (10pts), Upottery (12pts). Match abandoned.