Matchday nine marked the completion of the first half of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League campaign.
The matchday results saw two wins and a defeat for the three Bradninch & Kentisbeare senior teams.
There were some terrific individual contributions across the three teams.
FIRST ELEVEN – Skipper Chappell and Farley guide side home
The 1st XI won a low scoring affair at Exeter where they bowled the home side out for 134 in 37 overs and three balls. It’s a hallmark of the great ‘strength in depth’ we have in the 1st XI that skipper Gary Chappell was able to call on seven different bowlers and all of them claimed at least one wicket!
Ross Acton, Mitch Pugh and the skipper himself each bagged a brace of wickets and there were single wickets for Jon Triner, Andrew Buzza, Josh Farley and our ‘new man’, Madawa Warnapura (Bandu), who, just over 24 hours ago was in his native Sri Lanka!
When we took on the run chase we had a fine 75-ball 39 at the top of the order from Tim Piper but wickets fell at regular intervals and, at 78-6 with Piper the sixth man down, the game was ‘in the balance’. However, Jon Triner (19) and Andrew Buzza (14) made significant contributions and, from 112-8, skipper Gary Chappell (16 no) and Josh Farley (10 no) batting at nine and ten respectively, saw us to a two-wicket win.
Billy Buckingham returned the pick of the home bowling returns with his 4-38.
SECOND XI – Coombes, Badwal, Gillett and Squire all star
A feature of the 2nd XIs 55 run win at Rectory Park over Whimple 1st XI was some stunning catches and, fittingly, it was one such ‘stunner’ held by Richard Norman sealed the victory.
Earlier, batting first, ‘NinchBeare’ were in a spot of bother at 50-5. Then Ankit Badwal hit a 19-ball 47 – six fours and three sixes as he and Will Squire added 69 for the sixth wicket.
When Badwal fell young Joe Gillett took over and he hit a 40-ball 47, adding 78 for the seventh wicket. Will Squire, who batted in the number six berth, was the last man out, but not before he had hit a 63-ball 76 (hitting five fours and six sixes) to leave B&K on 268 all out in 39.2 overs.
A special mention too – in terms of the batting effort – for 14-year-old Lewis Coombes who scored 10 and helped Squire put on 61 for the ninth wicket!Remember that name – Lewis Coombes – for he features later in the contest with the ball!
Whimple set off at full pace in the run chase. Indeed, after 10 overs they were 70-1 (B&K at the same stage had been 17-2) – However, once the hard-hitting Andrew Codling had been superbly caught by Will Squire off the bowling of James Mills – Codling hitting 13 fours and three sixes – Whimple slipped from 121-1 to 163-6.
Their bid to win the game was very much ‘on’ as long as their Australian Fraser Campbell was at the crease, but he ultimately ran out of batting partners and was left unbeaten on 67 when the final wicket fell – that being a stunning Richard Norman catch to give Joe Gillett a second wicket.
The pick of the bowling returns came from young Coombes with his figures being a most impressive 3-17 from six overs. James Mills also bowled superbly – he bowled a full shift of nine overs for his return of 2-38.
Todd Scrace also bagged a brace – his figures being 2-50 from a full shift of nine overs and the other wicket fell to Ankit Badwal.
A special mention now for the catching – skipper Scott Chappell held no fewer than three behind the stumps – one a real stunner and he also made a smart stumping as Whimple were bowled out for 213 to leave B&K winners by a margin of 55 runs.
THIRD XI – Three wickets for Dennis and runs for both Farley and Holding
No such joy for the 3rd XI who went down by six wickets to Seaton 2nds at Kensham Park. Batting first, the home side scored 181-9 in 40 overs with the top contribution being a 96-ball nine boundary from Neil Farley batting in the number four slot while George Holding hit a quick-fire 28-ball 42 with one six and six fours.
Cameron Dennis was the not out batsman at the close of the innings with 19 runs to his name.Devon Welsh, with 5-37, was the pick of the Seaton bowlers. Their run chase became something of a formality with Jack Dormer scoring an unbeaten nine boundary 62-ball 44.
George Harwood chipped in with an unbeaten 44 scored from 62 deliveries. For the home side, Rory Dennis returned the pick of the bowling figures with his 3-33 from eight overs, two of which were maidens as Seaton sealed a six wicket win inside 36 overs.