Bradninch & Kentisbeare 1st XI made a huge statement in terms of their aspirations to claim a second Tolchards Devon Premier League title in three years when they defeated Sandford by a margin of five wickets at Kensham Park.
The highlight of another wonderful win was a century from skipper Gary Chappell who brought up his latest ton with a four to record a 108-ball century with seventeen fours and two sixes.
With a large crowd – the day was also designated as A THANYOU TO OUR SPONSORS – SPONSORS DAY – and they saw Sandford win the toss, bat first and be bowled out for 209.
After a competent start that saw them reach 170-3 after 32 overs, the side, who began the day second in the table – 12 points behind B&K – lost their last seven wickets for the addition of just 39 runs in 12 overs and one ball!
Home skipper Gary Chappell had the best of the bowling returns with his being 3-35 from 8.3 overs.
Indeed, all five bowlers that were called into action claimed at least one wicket with the returns being: Andrew Buzza (2-30 from eight), Ross Acton (2-34 from 10), Josh Farley (2-44 from 8) and Mitch Pugh (1-63 from 10) as Sandford were bowled out for 209 in 44.3 overs.
Catches were held by wicket keeper Tim Piper (two), Josh Farley (two), Jon Triner and Mitch Pugh.
For the visitors, Aryan Lakra top scored with a 47-ball 44, hitting dour fours and two sixes. Adam Small faced 59 balls and hit four fours in his offering of 43 while Ciaran Gray hit a three boundary 14-ball 26 and Lawrence Walker hit three fours and a six in his contribution of 25 from 36 balls. There were also 21 extras – 18 of which were wides.
Skipper Gary Chappell and Tim Piper launched the B&K reply with the first fifty being chalked up off 8.3 overs.
The pair went on to add 93 before Piper fell for a 46-ball 21, bowled by Sandford skipper Jackson Thompson.
Mitch Pugh joined the skipper at the wicket and, after 23 overs, the run chase stood at 113-1.
Pugh was second man down, falling to a catch held off his own bowling by Jamie Palmer. Pugh and Chappell added 51 for the second wicket and it was Madawa Warnapura, better known as ‘Bandu’ who took over, but the Sri Lankan fell to a catch behind held by glovesman Adam Small off the bowling of Jamie Palmer.
That left the run chase on 176-3, two balls into the 36th over. Bandu was out for an eight ball three and Young Theo Lamey took over.
The Chappell century arrived off the 108th delivery the skipper faced. However, with a magnificent ton to his name, Chappell perished, falling to a catch held by Lawrence Walker off the bowling of Matt Jeacock – the skipper trooping off to the acclaim of the large attendance at the contest.
Jon Triner joined young Lamey with the score on 177-4 after 36.2 overs, the team needing 33 runs from the final 13.4 overs of the contest.
The score, after 37 overs, was 179-4 – now the ‘runs required’ stood at 31 from 13 overs.
The final delivery of the 39th over saw Jon Triner hit Jackson Thompson for six to take the chase to 189-4, now just 26 more runs were required.
Theo Lamey fell to the second ball of the 41st over, bowled by Matt Jeacock to leave the reply on 196-5, now just 14 runs from victory. Young Lamey fell for a 16-ball six and Andrew Buzza joined Triner at the wicket.
Triner despatched the final ball of the 41st over to the boundary to leave the run chase on 203-5 – now just seven runs shy of a huge victory.
Andrew Buzz sent the second ball of the 42nd over to the boundary and he then bagged a single, and it was left to Jon Triner to rifle the fifth delivery of the over to the boundary for a five wicket victory to be sealed!
Triner finished unbeaten on 22 from just 16 balls faced whilst Buzz was not out six from five balls.