BRADNINCH cruised into the final of the Servicemaster Devon T20 Cup when they trounced Plymouth by eight wickets in the semi.
Plymouth skipper Sam Stein won the toss and batted first on finals day at Sidmouth – and saw openers Hamish Gardiner and Jamie Wals race to 28 in the first three overs. That was as good as it got.
Four wickets tumbled adding another eight runs and from then on Plymouth were on the back foot.
Tight bowling from Ross Acton (3-21) and Elliot Acton (3-23) kept the Plymouth middle-order under pressure.
At 63 for seven in the 10th over, it seemed Plymouth would struggle to make 100.
Skipper Stein (13) and brother Ben (32) put on 29 for the eighth wicket in a partial recovery.
Ross Acton had three wickets, three catches and three run-outs, making him man of the match.
A total of 100 all out was never likely to be enough for Plymouth, as Bradninch proved by knocking off the target with more than four overs to spare.
Chris Metters went early – in and out for one – but new captain Gary Chappell (62) and Dan Hardy (22) took the chase to 56 for two.
Tim Piper joined Chappell for the dash to victory, keeping an end going while Chappell hit out.
Chappell reached his 50 off 51 balls and won the game by hitting Fahad Ali for six.
Along the way to his 56 all out Chappell passed 1,000 runs in all league and cup cricket this season.
Winning captain Chappell was quick to acknowledge Ross Acton’s part in the win.
“It was a big contribution in every way – almost a match-winning one,” said Chappell.
“Plymouth got off to a flier – and we needed to slow them down.
“Once Plymouth started losing wickets they teed off looking for runs – and lost more wickets.
“Then they tried to rebuild, but couldn’t do it.”
Plymouth skipper Stein said his side under performed and could have few complaints.
“We didn’t put enough value on our wickets,” said Stein.
“Three run outs didn’t help us – and neither did missing three straight ones.
“We didn’t build partnerships when it mattered. Our best was between myself and Ben which was a bit late in the day.”
