The Bradninch 2nd XI travelled to nearby Thorverton 2nd XI knowing that only a win and favourable results else where would stop their relegation to the seventh tier of Tolchards Devon League Cricket.
After losing the toss, Ninch were invited to field first and the home openers, John Farley and Andy Daldorph made comfortable progress, reaching 50 in 10 overs and then 100 in the 21st over.
Indeed, the openers took the score to 125 before they were parted thanks to a straight delivery from Paul Nott who bowled Farley for 40.
Nott bowled another superb spell – running through his full nine overs to return the impressive figures of 1-14. What’s more there were 46 dot balls in the Nott spell – a superb effort given that the other 36 overs sent down by six different bowlers, went for 221 runs!
It was fifth change bowler Mark Perrott who claimed the second wicket when he bowled Dandolph for 71 with the score then 134-2 in the 30th over.
Chris Acton then bowled Ben Coe for three to leave the Thors on 141-3, but that was to be as good as it got for Bradninch as the home side, thanks to the efforts of George Greed (53) and Grant Squire (44) eased their way to a closing total of 240-3 after their 45 overs.
As for the Ninch bowlers, we have already mentioned the superb shift from Paul Nott. Then other returns were; Ryan Shrewsberry (0-36 from six), James Mills (0-22 from five), Will Birley (0-29 from two), Chris Acton (1-37 from nine) and Mark Perrott (1-47 from eight).
Thom Bunker and Paul Nott launched the Ninch reply but the latter fell for a third ball duck, caught behind by Paul Stirling off the bowling of Jacob Broom. Chris Acton took over, but, with the score on 38, he perished for seven, caught by Jack Stirling off the bowling of Imogen Dandolph.
Ten runs were added when Bunker was caught by Jacob Broom to give Jack Stirling the first of what would be a ‘fivefer’ for the home skipper.
With Bunker out, Ninch were 483- and just four runs were added before Will Birley was next to go, superbly caught one-handed by Ben Coe to leave Ninch 52-4.
Lewis Rhodes joined Nick Acton and the pair added twenty runs before Rhodes was trapped leg before by Ben Coe for six to leave the reply on 72-5 and it was quickly 74-6 as Acton was caught by Jacob Broom – a third wicket for Stirling with Acton out for eight.
Both the seventh and eight wickets fell with the score on 79 as Liam Reed was bowled by Stirling for five before James Mills was caught behind by Paul Stirling to give his brother Jack his fifth wicket.
Mark Perrott joined Ryan Shrewsberry and they added 20 before Perrott was adjudged leg before to a delivery from James Meredith and out for eight to leave Ninch teetering on 99-9.
Josh Richards was last man in and he and Shrewsberry had added 19 for the final wicket when Richards was bowled by Henry Squire for 13 leaving Ryan Shrewsberry as the not out batsman with 17 runs to his name – including three sweet boundaries.
Bradninch were all out for 118 in 25 overs and four balls and were therefore beaten by 112 runs.
Jack Stirling took the honours with his return of 5-22 and all the other five bowlers each claimed a single wicket with their returns being: Jacob Broom (1-13 from five), Imogen Dandolph (1-29 from five), Ben Coe (1-6 from three), Henry Squire (1-25 from 4.4) and James Meredith (1-17 from three).
So, it’s relegation for the 2nd XI who will, in 2023, line up alongside, Alphington & Countess Wear 2nd XI, Axminster 1st XI, Bideford, Littleham & Westward Ho! 2nd XI, Cullompton 2nd XI, Culmstock, Exeter III, Kilmington 2nd XI, North Devon III and Upottery II.