Bradninch & Kentisbeare on course for second successive Premier title after win over Exmouth | Four wickets for Chappell (pictured) as challengers skittled for 130
ALMOST there! Bradninch & Kentisbeare are just four points away from retaining the Tolchards DCL Premier Division title they won last year after dismantling chasers Exmouth by eight wickets.
Exmouth were the only side with a realistic chance of catching Bradninch & Kentisbeare in the final two rounds of matches, but not any longer.
Defeat cost them second place in the table, which is now occupied by Paignton. The 16-point gap between the top two should be enough to guarantee a B&K title, unless they slip-up massively against visiting Exeter. And Paignton have to beat Plymouth convincingly to make-up lost ground.
Gary Chappell, the B&K captain, is playing it safe for now, commenting: “We had a great win over Exmouth, but we are not there yet.”
Four wickets for Chappell (4-234) and two each for Ross Acton (2-38) and Malusi Siboto (2-32), consigned Exmouth to 130 all out with 10 overs to go.
Exmouth were 82 for three – Cam Kidd (26) top scorer at that point – then lost Dan Pyle (37) to Mitch Pugh and it was downhill all the way after that.
Chappell opened-up for Bradninch & Kentisbeare and was still there on 63 not out when the winning runs were scored in the 23rd over. A first-wicket stand of 102 with Dan Hardy (29) ended the game as a contest.
Said Chappell: “I think experience was the difference between the sides. Exmouth are a very good side and it was perhaps just our day.”
Fin Marks, the Exmouth captain, replied: ““Gary Chappell and his men were the better team on the day and – to be fair – have been all year.
"Sadly everything that could've gone wrong went wrong. It was just one of those days.
"Congratulations to the Ninch boys; we'll be better for it next year.”
For Exmouth it was a double-doomer weekend as two possible prizes slipped through their fingers.
Barely 24 hours after the Premier title got away, it was off to Basingstoke for South finals day in the ECB T20 Cup.
Ashmanhaugh and Barton Wanderers were ejected by seven wickets at the semi-final stage. Wanstead & Snaresbrook sneaked home by seven runs against Exmouth in a tense play-off and will go through to finals day on the Getty Ground at Wormsley next month.
Marks said the players won’t be dwelling long on their double doomer.
“Our last game is against Sidmouth this Saturday and it won’t be a problem raising ourselves for that one,” he said.
