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Posted:
Wednesday 2nd July 2008
Source: Stephen Birley
The
club�s 1st XI remains on course for an incredible double of
Devon League A Division and North Devon Sunday League First
Division titles, and that would be an unprecedented achievement.
With the Saturday side steaming full speed ahead towards the
promised land of Premier Division cricket, having reached half
way with a big advantage over the 3rd placed side the Sunday XI
are just as hot. Although they do not actually top their table,
they sit level with Sandford and with only North Devon now the
only other side to harbour serious title aspirations it is
clearly now a three team tilt at the title! In their latest
game the side travelled to Newton Tracey, the reigning
champions, who claimed last season�s top honour, just twelve
months after stepping out of the 2nd Division, but who made a
terrible start to this season with four defeats in their last
five. Batting first the hosts were bowled out for 193 with
Adrian Ezquerro once again amongst the wickets. The popular
Aussie all rounder bagged a four-wicket haul and then hit an
unbeaten half-century. Another popular overseas star, Ryan
Butterworth also nailed a half-century and the pair saw us home
to a five-wicket win. Sandford were also in action and they
too had help from a Zimbabwean, former Test ace Douglas Hondo
hit his maiden half-century and Sandford skipper Richard Foan
(nephew of the Bradninch CC Chairman - Derrick, and son of our
former Grounds man and now Cheriton Fitzpaine�s �Mr Cricket� �
Mike) hit a half-century as they saw off Bideford at Creedy Park
by a margin of 16 runs. Interestingly, whilst on the theme of
overseas involvement, the most successful bowler for Bideford
was Michael Warne, nephew of the great Aussie spin ace Shane.
North Devon were not in action and so there was no change in the
table � it is all looking now like hinging on the matches
between Bradninch, Sandford and North Devon and we will take a
look at who plays who and when later in the week. | 
