Bradninch & Kentisbeare 2nd XI ‘warmed-up’ for the ‘match-of-the-day’ visit to Tolchards Devon league D Division East tabled-topping
Upottery this coming Saturday (July 20) with another comprehensive success – this latest one a 75-run victory at home to near neighbours Clyst Hydon.
Skipper Scott Chappell lost the toss and was invited to send his opening batsmen in by his opposite number.
Jed Findlay and Harvey Sanders launched the home innings but were separated with the score on 39 – Sanders caught and sent back with 15 runs to his name.
The skipper was next man in and he helped Findlay take the score to 83 before the opening bat became the second man down, not before he had clocked up a 10-boundary, 41-ball 46.
Chappell fell soon after, out for a 33-ball 18 with the score then 111-3. Connor Carthew was joined by Jock Keillor and they took the score to 154 when the latter fell for a run-a-ball 22.
The loss of the fourth wicket brought Ankit Badwal to the wicket and he and Carthew began a terrific partnership that also saw the run-rate accelerated.
Indeed, no further wickets were lost as Carthew and Badwal took the score to its close of 248-4 after 30 overs (the weather meaning just 30 of the standard 45 overs were able to be bowled in the innings). Such was the control exerted on proceedings by Carthew and Badwal that they added 84 runs in just six overs and two balls!
Carthew trooped off with an unbeaten 59, scored off 45 balls while the latest Badwal ‘assault’ on opposition bowling meant he had scored 58 from just 25 deliveries – hitting six sixes and three fours including an audacious ‘ramp’ that sailed over the wicket keeper and slip cordon and to the boundary at the Shed End of Kensham Park.
Clyst Hydon closed their 30 overs on 173-5 with almost half of their runs coming from the bat of opener, skipper Ian Sutton who was bowled by the 75th ball he received – this one sent down by Badwal – with Sutton dismissed for 71, hitting four sixes and two fours.
The ‘best of the rest’ for the visitors in terms of their batting effort was a five boundary 52-ball unbeaten 39 from Louis Marks.
For B&K, the pick of the bowling returns was the 2-24 from the five overs sent down by Ankit Badwal. Skipper Chappell switched his bowling attack round to great effect with no fewer than seven different players getting to turn their arm over.
The full returns were: Jock Keillor (0-30 from five), James Mills (0-11 from five), Ankit Badwal (2-24 from five), Josh Stewart (1-37 from six), Mark Perrott (1-33 from five), Will Greig (0-8 from one) and Liam Reed (1-20 from three).
Next stop Upottery on matchday 12 which also marks the completion of two-thirds of the Devon League season.