Bradninch 1st XI versus Ashburton 1st XI
Saturday 24th May 2003 at Bradninch


Put in to bat on a surprisingly hard track, Bradninch started watchfully and after a quiet first ten overs the runs began to flow as Ashburton failed to make a breakthrough. Moving quickly from two to four runs an over by mid-innings, Chris Acton and Gary Newall dominated the bowlers and visibly demoralised the fielders with some dazzling stroke play at both ends.

Chris was first to 50, while Gary waited patiently for last season’s free scoring form to return and with the team declaring as he moved to 95 not out against Ashburton last game of the 2002 campaign, there was
a hint of irony creeping in as hetoo passed 50 and made up ground on Chris as they both approached their centuries. Passing 150 then 200, the scene was set for an early declaration as the unbroken first wicket stand passed the previous league record of 239. A few extra overs to bowl the opposition out was the decisive factor as Bradninch declared on 244 for 0 after the 43 over. (Chris Acton 120 not out and Gary Newall 106 not out).

With 49 overs to bat, Ashburton chose to attack from the outset with a ‘pinch hitter’ replacing the regular opener to try and knock a hole in the formidable target. A first over LBW raised the home side’s hopes of
an early victory, but the cavalier tactics paid off as the score moved quickly to 40 for 1 thanks to a foray of agricultural shots that made a mockery of some accurate bowling from Alan Gambles, playing his first
league game for Bradninch since 1997.

A change down the hill brought Joel in to the attack and after some tactical sparring, one too many ventures down the wicket resulted in the scattering of the adventurous opener’s stumps with a full blooded delivery. Determined to remain on the offensive, Ashburton sent in another hard hitting batsman who immediately put bat to ball and took the score passed 50.

A sense of inevitability prevailed as the third wicket fell quickly and M. Pascoe was joined by a rather determined looking B. Wright. A stand of 80 plus unfolded at a good rate as Bradninch mixed the bowling up and suffered an uncharacteristic blip with their fielding. At 140 for 3 with 20 overs remaining any result was possible.

Needing to arrest the attack, Bradninch turned to Alan Gambles, switching him to his favoured down the hill approach, and he duly obliged with a magnificent 6 over spell during which he took 5 wickets, clean bowling four of the opposition to change the course of the game. Completing his quota of overs, Alan was replaced by Joel who claimed the ninth wicket to set up a 44 run victory from a run out in the 46 over, gaining Bradninch maximum points to take their tally for the season to 75 out of a possible 80. (Alan Gambles 5-47, Joel Murphy 3-34 and M. Pascoe 61). Bradninch 20 points, Ashburton 5.

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