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Posted:
Monday 14th September 2009
Source: Stephen Birley
The Bradninch Sunday XI finally made a prolific statement in
their North Devon Holiday Homes League campaign by fielding
arguably their strongest teams of the campaign and won
back-to-back games against two sides who have spent much of the
summer chasing the top honour - claimed over the weekend by
Heathcoat to leave the NDL Championship spending a further
twelve months in Mid Devon after the Sandford success 12 months
ago.
It is a shame that it has taken so long for such strong squads
to be fielded on the Sabbath for without doubt that title could
well have been spending the winter in the Kensham Park trophy
cabinet!
Saturday's game saw North Devon's title bid ended. It was that
result that left the men across at Knightshayes crowned
champions, 24 hours before they were due to play their last game
of the season at Creedy Park.
Ross Acton was the catalyst for the Saturday win. He top-scored
with 64 in a total of 238-9 then later in the action it was the
newly appointed Saturday 1st XI skipper who finally saw the back
of centurion Dan Bowser for 116 with a little help from wicket
keeper-for-the-day, Tim Piper!
In support of the Acton innings there were runs from Piper (33),
Gary Chappell (31), Dan Hardy (30) and Mark 'Budgie' Perrott.
What an exceptional season he has had with the ball - claimed
4-23 in another nine splendid overs to leave the visitors
closing on 205-8. That Bowser ton apart, the vital wicket of
Stuart Rhodes fell to Budgie, with help from a fine catch by
young Matt Jarrett.
The win, whilst ending the North Devon title bid also confirmed
the Bradninch 1st Division berth for 2010 with a couple of games
to go.
The following day an equally strong line up took to the outfield
on one of the most glorious cricketing weather days of the
entire season. Batting first Richard Foan (16) and Tim Piper
(10) made rapid hay in the sun, racing to 30 at a run-a-ball. A
cluster of wickets fell to leave visiting Filleigh back in the
contest and the home side on 56-4.
Then Ross Acton and Gary Chappell took charge, Acton again
top-scoring with 42, Chappell contributing just one less than
that and there were further late-order runs from Joel Murphy
(25) and a cameo unbeaten knock of 27 from Paul 'P-nut' Nott who
added an ultimately match-winning 44 runs with last man Ben
Franks (12). The innings closed on a competitive 214 all out.
Filleigh opener Godfrey Tucker also enjoyed the superb batting
conditions and he charged to a run-a-ball 82 with eight 4s and
five 6s. At 120-1 it was advantage Filleigh until Richard Foan
bagged two wickets in as many balls and Joel Murphy did likewise
as 120-1 became 120-3 and 155-4 going on to a perilous 162-9
when again the tail wagged before the reply floundered on 199.
Foan finished with 4-34 and the other wicket takers were
Chappell (2-34), Murphy (2-25) and Nott (2-22).
So back-to-back wins with one to play at Sandford on the final
day of the season (September 20), Bradninch can now go across to
Creedy Park to win and that will lift them into an impressive
4th placed finish!
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