Bradninch 1st XI versus Mount Wise 1st XI
Saturday 31st May 2003 at Mount Wise

Losing the toss for the third week in a row, Bradninch were asked to bat on a slow, dry, low wicket. A tight opening spell of bowling from ‘Whiskey’ and the Australian, Richardson, contained the Bradninch openers but at 20 for no wicket the pair were looking comfortable, when Gary Newall was bowled for 6, reducing his season average by half to just over 70.

Tim Piper joined Andy Nichols and they took the score beyond 40 before Andy fell LBW giving Richardson his second top order victim. Joel Murphy, batting with young Tim for the first time this season, looked confident but was beaten by a low leg side delivery from ‘Whiskey’ and Ross Acton came to wicket to hold court in a youthful partnership, against an opposing side that was threatening to take control.

A lively twenty minutes followed as Ross put bat to ball in his inimitable style stroking the Australian through mid-on, mid-off and mid-wicket in consecutive balls. The score moved on quickly as Tim also began to flourish, but one too many drives from Ross resulted in a caught and bowled with the penultimate ball of Richardson’s tidy 13 over spell.

At 75 for 4 and 20 overs to go, the innings was delicately balanced, but a crucial partnership unfolded as Derrick Foan came in to support the now rampant Tim Piper, keeping the score board moving and rotating the strike at every opportunity. Progressing at seven runs per over, the innings developed to a well placed 144 with 10 overs remaining before Derrick picked out square leg to give Mount Wise their fifth wicket.

With a score of 200 now well within their sights the Bradninch batsmen continued to attack with Gem Coetzee and Rob Acton contributing quick runs, but Tim was unfortunately run out with 5 overs to go and the innings closed just short of the five point target on 187 for 7. (Tim Piper 60, Andy Nichols 28 and G. Richardson 3-48).

The Mount Wise innings got off to a useful, albeit lucky beginning with Stevenson chancing his arm and surviving three lives as Tim joined Ross in the opening attack in place of the holidaying Paul Nott. No wicket for 30 after 9 overs brought Andy Nichols and Joel Murphy in to the attack and Andy predictably bowled Stevenson, prompting Joel to break through at the other end to halt the promising start.

This brought Richardson to the wicket and he proceeded to play in a positive but deliberately, patient manner. A tense 15 over period ensued with wickets falling around him, as he deceptively looked in control with three ‘gimme’ sixes that kept the target within reach. With the necessary pressure applied and the fielding side maintaining their focus, Ross returned at the Devonport end and trapped the Mount Wise number eight LBW leaving them on a precarious 106 for 7.

Further resistance and solid support for the increasingly dominating Australian, took the score to 140 with eight overs and one ball of the innings remaining. The final delivery of Tim Piper’s second spell proved critical as he cleaned bowled Richardson with a delivery that moved off the pitch and sped through a hurried defensive shot. The home side’s lower order held out for a tantalizing six overs before Joel completed another exceptional effort taking the last two wickets, as the innings closed on 148 all out. (Joel Murphy 4-14, Tim Piper 3-47, Andy Nichols 2-27 and G. Richardson 51). Bradninch 19 points, Mount Wise 5.

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