File image of Bradninch & Kentisbeare batter Dan Hardy, who top scored with 77 against Sandford<br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe - no re-use without copyright owner's consent

BRADNINCH & Kentisbeare handed out a 91-run drubbing to Sandford in the Premier Division derby at Kensham Park.

Dan Hardy, who went in at 37 for two for Bradninch & Kentisbeare, stuck around to make a top score of 77 in the team total of 244 for nine.

By the time Tudor Morgan-Huggett (3-46) snared Hardy leg-before, he had put on 72 with Jonathan Triner (40) and 67 with Josh Farley, who went on to make 31.

Morgan-Huggett and Ben Handley (3-43) were Sandford’s leading wicket takers. Jackson Thompson bowled 10 overs at a cost of just 13 runs against one of his former clubs.

Sandford’s batting just didn’t fire at all. Handley made 22; no one else got beyond 20. It did not help the cause that Tanbir Hayder, the Bangladeshi all-rounder, was resting due to a knee injury. Somerset’s James Theedom was otherwise occupied.Three wickets – Josh Farley

Josh Farley (3-38) pipped Muhammad Ismail (2-41) Gary Chappell (2-22) and Charlie Sheen (2-36) on a good day for B&K’s spin bowlers.

For Bradninch & Kentisbeare it was convincing win that hoisted them 29 points above the relegation low-tide mark.

Gary Chappell, the B&K captain, said: “Sandford were obviously missing players but we did what we needed to do.

“Dan Hardy continued his good season with a top knock and was supported by good partnerships with Triner and Farley.

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“Then Tim Piper (21) played a nice cameo to get us to an above-par score. And the bowlers did the rest.”

Adam Small, the Sandford captain, said: “No doubt the best team on the day won.

“Our batting fell short of where we want to be again. We lost three early wickets and unlike Bradninch, for whom Hardy and Triner were able to rebuild, we continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.

“We did well to keep them to under 250 on a good pitch with Tudor Morgan Huggett grasping his opportunity in the first team with three wickets. 

“Ben Handley again showed what a prospect he is with another three wickets to his name and Jackson, who is bowling at well as ever, kept control at the top of the innings with his 10 overs costing only a little over a run a ball.

“Plenty of challenges ahead to keep ourselves in the top half of the table. Hopefully injuries and availability will improve.”