Winning captain Justin Yau with the Servicemaster T20 Cup

SCORECARD | S/F NORTH DEVON v TORQUAY | S/F BRADNINCH v PLYMOUTH

JOE Thompson played the innings of his life to send Torquay to an unlikely win over Bradninch in the final of the Servicemaster T20 Cup.

Torquay looked down and not far from out at 38 for five in the seventh over of the tea-time final at Sidmouth chasing a Bradninch total of 143 all out.Joe Thompson (left) collecting the MoM award from adjudicator Conrad Sutcliffe

A stand of 33 between Thompson and Ben Francis used up another five overs and just about kept Torquay up with the clock.

When Nick Watkin went out to join Thompson the score was 71 for six with one ball short of eight overs to go.

Winning remained a tall order for Torquay, but Thompson and Watkin delivered victory with three balls to spare on the back of some brutal hitting.

Thompson belted Chris Acton for six to bring up his 50 off 40 balls as Torquay got the target down to 33 off four overs.

Bradninch skipper Gary Chappell had an over left and used to limit Torquay to just five runs added.

Twenty-one to win off two overs was reduced by 15 when Thompson battered Andy Buzza round the park – his baseball-style six was the shot of the day.

Dan Hardy had the unenviable task of bowling the final over, which went dot, six into the Belmont Hotel car park, single to give Torquay victory with three balls to spare.

Thompson finished unbeaten on 82 off 55 balls with four fours and six sixes – a match-winning innings by anyone’s standards.

Watkin was unbeaten on 21 from 18 balls, an innings every bit as important as Thompson’s. Their stand of 73 unbroken changed the game and without Watkin’s contribution it is hard to see how Torquay could have won.

DCL chairmam Stuart Munday hands the Devon T20 Cup to Torquay captain Justin YauWatkin described Thompson’s knock as ‘brilliant’ adding: “It was great to have the best seat in the house to see it.

“When Joe bats like that there are few bowlers who can live with him.

“My job was to give him as much of the strike as possible and let him get on with it.”

Winning captain Justin Yau said Thompson is in the middle of the best season he has had with the club with bat and ball.

“We have always known at Torquay what Joe is capable of – now everyone knows,” said Yau.

“It was great to see him produce an innings like that on the big-match stage.”

Amid all the hubbub of the post-match celebrations, Yau didn’t forget some of the other contributors to the day.

“Matt Beasant only joined us a few weeks ago from Abbotskerswell and he changed the semi-final with a tidy spell and the final with another one,” said Yau.

“George Allen’s 47 not out in the semi-final win over North Devon was crucial as 103 in 12 overs is steep and we got it with an over to go.”

Bradninch overwhelmed Plymouth by eight wickets in the morning semi-final.

Torquay’s semi-final against North Devon was reduced to 12 overs each because of a rain break. North Devon made 102 for four, which Allen and Mitch Pugh (27) knocked off the bulk of.

Torquay have qualified as Devon champions for the NatWest Club T20, a national competition with a final at Derby on September 6.

The next stage for Yau and his men is the regional final against T20 champions from Cornwall, South Wales and the WEPL on August 7. Welsh champs Newport are hosting the play-off.

Newport play Frocester (WEPL) in the first semi-final with Torquay up against St Just in the second. The final is at 4pm.

Win that round and Torquay are through to the regional final on August 21, from which the winners go through to the final at Derby.

SEMI-FINALS

Plymouth 100 (B Stein 32, H Gardiner 18; R Acton 3-21, E Acton 3-23), Bradninch 102-2 (G Chappell 62no, D Hardy 22). Bradninch 102-2 (G Chappell 62, D Hardy 22). Bradninch bt Plymouth by 8 wkts.

North Devon 102-4 (D Bowser 48, E Yeo 20; M Petherbridge 3-25), Torquay 106-2 (G Allen 47, M Pugh 27). Torquay bt North Devon by 8 wkts.

FINAL

Bradninch 143 (C Metters 55, G Chappell 27, E Acton 21; M Pugh 3-21, M Beasant 2-12, N Watkin 2-17), Torquay 144-6 (J Thompson 82no, N Watkin 21). Torquay bt Bradninch by 4 wkts.