A magnificent century from Mitchell Pugh – the opener facing 131-balls for his 118, hitting 15 fours and one six – was the central contribution to a superb 77 run win over Exmouth in a Tolchards Devon Premier League game played at Kensham Park.
Pugh opened the innings and was the third wicket to fall with the score on 169, but he did not fall before he and Yuvraj Singh had put on a superb 105 runs for the third wicket.
Singh provided the pick of the supporting acts in terms of the B&K batting effort. The Indian hit three sixes and two fours in his 61-ball 41.
Indeed, such was the dominance the Pugh knock had on the home innings, after his three figure effort and the knock from Singh there were only two other double figure contributions with that bat – those being a 24-ball 23 (hitting two fours and a six) and 18 from opener Tim Piper – his effort including three fours – as B&K closed on 237-8 after their 50 overs.
Third change Dan Pyle served up the pick of the Exmouth bowling returns with his 4-43 from seven overs. Peter Turnbull and Cameron Kidd each bagged a brace of wickets.
When Exmouth replied they were well and truly ‘hit’ by the ever-productive new ball bowling combination of Ross Acton and Yuvraj Singh – the pair claiming two wickets each to leave the visitors on 30-4.
Number ten bat Billy Reed hit a 30-ball 42, rifling three sixes and five fours, while the best of the rest from the Exmouth batting effort was a knock of 30 from Cameron Kidd, his runs scored off 62 balls faced, hitting two fours and two sixes.
However, as good as the Reed shift with the bat was, it was ultimately in a losing cause as his team were bowled out for 160 in 41 overs and two balls.
First change bowler Andrew Buzza, back in harness for B&K after a stint of coaching at the T20 World Cup where he worked with the USA squad – claimed a three-wicket haul to finish with figures of 3-52 from his 10 overs.
As for the rest of the bowling returns were: Yuvraj Singh – a superb 2-19 from a full shift of 10 overs (and a superb economy of 1.90!); Ross Acton (2-26 from seven), Mitch Pugh (0-12 from six overs), Joshua Farley (3-34 from 4.2 overs), Jon Trimer (0-5 from two) and Nicholas Bayly (0-9 from two).
2nd XI – Skipper Chappell sees side to victory after Heard heroics – and some exceptional catching!
Bradninch & Kentisbeare 2nd XI became the first team to inflict defeat upon Tolchards Devon League D Division East leaders Shobrooke Park, beating them by five wickets – and on their own ground too!
In what was a five-star team performance there were a number of ‘stand-out’ contributions. None more important than the unbeaten half century scored by Scott Chappell – skippering in the absence of Eliot Acton and Will Greig.
Eliza Heard’s shift is worthy of high praise too as she claimed a four wicket haul and held a superb catch to end the innings of the home sides top scorer on the day – opener Chris Simpson.
Ankit Badwal held three catches – one of them a contender for ‘catch-of-season’.
James Mills bagged a brace of wickets and was most economic with his bowling – only going for 26 from his full shift of nine overs.
Then, in a run chase of 169, after knocks of 25 from both openers, Jed Findlay and Todd Scrace, it was partnerships of 33 from Scott Chappell and Joe Gillett (12) for the fifth wicket and the ultimately ‘match winning partnership’ for the unbroken sixth wicket between Scott Chappell and Josh Richards (21 not out), that also led to ‘star’ performances.
Earlier in the day, Scott Chappell won the toss and elected to field and mixed his bowling well to restrict the table toppers to 168-9 after their 45 overs.
Eliza Heard took the bowling honours with figures of 4-29 from her full shift of nine overs – she also sent down 33 dot balls. The James Mills return of 2-26 included 39 dot balls and the other bowling returns were; Joe Gillett (1-24 from nine), Todd Scarce (1-22 from four), Tom Kittow (0-39 from nine) and Ankit Badwal (1-24 from five).
Jed Findlay (25) and Todd Scrase (25) put on 38 for the first wicket. When Scrace fell skipper Scott Chappell took over and there were 59 runs on the board when Findlay was caught in the deep for 25. Fred Gillett then joined his skipper and he scored eight, helping Chappell to add 25 for the third wicket.
Ankit Badwal was next in – and out – caught for one, which left the run chase on 92-4 in the 26th over.
However, Joe Gillett joined the skipper and the pair added 33, taking the score to 125 when Gillett holed out for 12.
Any fears of a run chase then going wrong were quickly dispelled as Josh Richards joined Scott Chappell and the pair batted so well together, adding 45 for the unbroken sixth wicket – and in good time too – taking just eight overs to get the job done and see B&K to a fabulous five wicket win.
3rd XI – Skipper Reed and young Marsh star in loss at Filleigh
Bradninch & Kentisbeare 3rd XI went down by 10 wickets when they travelled to the picturesque home of Filleigh for a G Division East encounter.
However, despite what ended up as something of a mauling, there were two stand-out individual contributions to the case and they came from skipper Liam Reed and youngster Bobby Marsh.
Batting first, B&K were bowled out for 118 in 37 overs and two balls. That total would have been no where near three figures had it not been for the skipper and teenager Marsh.
The recently married Liam Read batting at number six, hit a 34-ball 27, hitting five fours while young Marsh continued his fine recent form with a knock of 27, scored off 30 balls faced and he fit two fours and launched a six over the boundary line.
The home side made short work of completing a 10-wicket win, scoring the required runs in just 20 overs and one ball.