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Posted:
Sunday 21st June 2009
Source: Stephen Birley
It is perhaps a measure of the rise and rise of Bradninch CC
over the past five years that bad days have been few and far
between but Saturday June 20th fits into that category as both
the 1st and 2nd XI fell to heavy defeats.
The 1st team have made a reasonable start to life in the
top-flight picking up a couple of wins in their opening seven
games but they were well beaten by reigning champions and indeed
‘champions elect’ for this term, Sidmouth, at Kensham Park.
Batting first the visitors sailed to a commanding 255-7 from
their 50 overs led by star bat Neil Hancock who hammered 124 as
he and Josh Bess (74) added 124 for the 2nd wicket. Bess was
finally removed by Joel Murphy when Richard Foan held the catch
and Hancock eventually went, caught and bowled by Gary Chappell
who was celebrating his call up to the County side for a three
day game starting the following day.
Chappell took 2-89 but the best bowling return on the day was
the 2-58 from 15 overs from Paul Nott. Skipper Murphy ended with
1-48 in 11, Ross Acton braved an injury to send down half a
dozen overs returning figures of 1-16 whilst Richard Foan sent
down six over without success, closing with 0-38.
The home reply was quickly in deep trouble as Richard Foan was
caught for 5, Ross Acton was bowled by that man Hancock for 10
and Tim Piper fell the same way, to the same man, for just 5.
With Dan Hardy dismissed for a duck, lbw to Hancock, Joe Webb
also not troubling the scorers before he was bowled by Hancock
and Eliot Acton was caught for just 3 the side’s reply was in
huge trouble on 37-6 but then skipper Murphy, batting at number
eight and the superb Gary Chappell, steadied the ship with a
partnership of 50 before Murphy departed for 35.
Chris Acton the joined Chappell and the pair added a further 40
before Chappell ran out of partners as Andy Nicholls became the
third duck of the day and Paul Nott was caught for 2. Chappell
finished unbeaten on a quite magnificent 51 and without his
contribution on the day the margin of defeat would have been far
greater than the 105 runs it ended as.
Disappointment too for the 2nd XI who went down by 8 wickets at
Cornwood where they were shot out for just 92 with only Club
Chairman Derrick Foan (26) amongst the runs. The home side
breezed to victory, losing just two wickets. | 
