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Bradninch proved that they have what it takes to �stick around�
in this season�s A Division promotion race. Their fine win the
week before at another of the section�s title �promotion
candidates� Bovey Tracey catapulted Joel Murphy�s side into
second place and they consolidated it with a fine Kensham Park
success over winless Tavistock. The two sides had not managed
to complete a game in both meetings last season but this one
started, and finished with Bradninch the victors and by some
distance too as they put on a masterly performance with bat and
ball but it was their Australian all rounder Adrian Ezquerro who
stole the plaudits with a superb unbeaten 81 off just 70 balls
faced. He then bagged a brace of wickets before taking as good a
catch as you will see on any cricket ground anywhere in the
game!
Ezquerro was in a mean mood with the bat smashing five 6�s,
one of which sailed over the Bradninch tennis nets at the top
end of Kensham Park. The Aussie and Ross Acton (28) added 64 for
the 5th wicket in just ten overs at the crease to help the home
total to its close of 229-7 with the early innings of note once
again coming from an 'in form' Dan Hardy (40).
Teenager left arm seamer Acton then whipped out one of the
Tavistock openers with the very first ball of the post-tea
session, Dan Hardy taking the first of two catches with the
gloves and Acton went on to grab four wickets and Ezquerro at
the other end had two as the visitors slumped to 31-6. A mini
revival began with South African Steve Dembitzer top scoring for
his side with 18 from the number seven slot but when he went
caught at deep mid off by Ezquerro who ran some twenty yards
before taking a stunning �over the shoulder� catch off the
bowling of skipper Joel Murphy it was to signal the beginning of
the end.
Murphy quickly mopped up the tail to finish with figures of
4-5, Acton strode off with 4-46 but the biggest applause
post-match was reserved for that man Ezquerro, who, on this
form, looks like being the man to lead Bradninch to the promised
land of top flight cricket next summer.
Mind you let it not be said that they are a 'one man team'
right now for all rounder Ross Acton looks like a player who
should be gracing the top flight now, but surely that is
something he'll be doing this time next year if the side can
sustain this sort of form?
On Saturday they make the trip down the Devon Express Way to
Newton Abbot to meet South Devon |
