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Driving up to North Devon, the 2nd XI knew the importance of
further capitalising on their excellent start to the 2006
season, particularly with the loss of the previous game to the
weather. The home team won the toss and elected to bat on a
hot and cloudless day. Bideford got off to an excellent start as
Alex Dunlavey�s opening overs produced far too much in-swing to
be able to control his bowling effectively.
Bideford�s opening partnership of Argyla (24) and M Barratt
(30) put on a very steady 60 off 20 overs as Bradninch
successfully pegged back the run rate before Henry Scott
(6-1-18-1) induced a false stroke to make the first
breakthrough. Rob Thomas, in particular, strangled the
opposition, in his first outing for the Club this year with
11-1-29-0, auguring well for the rest of the season.
However, it was a particularly fine spell of bowling from
young Billy Wakeley (12-1-31-6), from the Pavilion end that
shredded the opposition�s chances of posting a higher score. He
bowled stump to stump extremely effectively, bowling four with
one plumb LBW and one stumping to claim his second �five-fer� in
the season. Alex Dunlavey picked up one wicket in his second
spell to end with 12-0-43-1.
Having been set a target of 158, perhaps 50 runs short of an
imposing target on the day, Bradninch won easily by eight
wickets but not without an uncertain start, which saw them at an
unsettling 2 down for 49 in the 15th over.
The loss of the second wicket brought Christopher Dean in to
face his first ball of the 2006 season. With Rob Acton, who has
yet to be out in the Saturday league, they put on 111 runs at a
rate of just over a run-a-ball. Rob Acton reached his third 50
of the season (59* off 98 balls with six fours) with imperious
pulling and hooking while Christopher Dean (68* off 62 balls, 1
six and 10 fours) straight drove and swept with ease.
The 19-point haul was further enhanced when news reached the
team that the then second-placed Ivybridge lost to Stoke
Gabriel.
Next up, Bradninch play away to Plymouth Civil Service who
are now in second place, six points behind. A win here would
greatly enhance the team�s chances of back-to-back promotion as
league champions.
Bradninch 19 points, Bideford 4 |
