Chappell eight runs short of third successive league ton

Mitch Pugh – shared a stand of 85 with run machine Gary Chappell

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

BRADNINCH out in front of North Devon at the top of the A Division table after besting near neighbours Cullompton by 148 runs.

Gary Chappell’s hopes of notching a third successive league ton were thwarted when he was dismissed by Bradninch newcomer Chris McKee, whose previous club was Taunton Deane.

Chappell’s 604 runs from five trips to the crease and with two not outs give him a staggering average of 201.33

Match pro Mitch Pugh rifled off 81 from 72 balls in a stand of 85 with Chappell for the third wicket.

By the time Pugh was sixth out on 276 he had been involved in partnerships worth 199 runs. He was one of six scalps claimed by another newcomer, Toby Stirzaker (6-46) who has hopped over the Somerset border from Bagborough CC.

Pugh wrapped up a man-of-the-match performance with four Cullompton wickets for 20 runs as the home side were bowled out for 140. Skipper Ross Acton (3-26) had the first two wickets to fall then Pugh got into the middle order.

Brendon Parr top scored for Cully with 32, Next best on 22 was McKee.

North Devon lead the division by a point from Bradninch, who are seven points ahead of third-placed Torquay.

Winning skipper Acton said on a day when two other games in the A Division were rain affected, playing to a winning finish was vital.

Acton added: “Mitch and Chaps did a great job with the bat with a few other chip-ins to set up a dominant total.

“We didn't give them a chance to reply with wickets up-front to knock out their top order. 

“I can't say the team weren't delighted to beat our neighbours so convincingly either.”