By STEVE BIRLEY

GARY Chappell gave a master class in T20 batting as Bradninch inflicted a second heavy defeat on neighbours Cullompton in the space 72 hours, beating them by eight wickets in a T20 Covid Cup tie at Kensham Park. 

Cullompton batted first and got off to a flyer thanks to a 15-ball, five-boundary 29 from Jason Parr. Dinesh Raheja chipped in with a 30-ball 24 and Cully had racked up 56 for two after just five overs! 

The introduction of Ankit Badwall at one end and Chappell at the other, stemmed the flow of runs. Badwell sent his four overs down for 22 while the Chappell four saw him return figures of 2-13.

Former Devon spinner Will Squire kept the pressure on as his four overs produced figures of 2-21 as Cully closed on 136 for nine. Eliot Acton (2-37) and Craig Penberthy (1-35) were the other home bowlers to see action. 

The ‘best of the rest’ in terms of the Cully batting effort was a 25-ball 17 from Brendan Parr and a 14-ball 16 from James Shere. 

Chappell launched the Bradninch run chase – and in some style too – as he slammed two sixes in the first over. Fellow opener Thom Bunker was left as a virtual spectator as Bradninch reached 50 in 28 balls with Chappell scoring 48 of them from just 21 deliveries!

When Bunker fell for three in the sixth over with the score then 76 for one, Chappell had already reached his half-century. He was eventually caught by Brendan Parr off the bowling of Adrian Pullin, but not before he had slammed 63 from 33 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes. 

Leon Horn (29 from 19 balls) and Squire (39 from 30), then saw the home side to victory which came with six overs and eight wickets remaining. 

The only Cullompton bowler to bag any success was Pullin (2-27), who took both wickets to fall. Young Matt Ottery also bowled a good over, he went for 10, but did deliver three of the 13 deliveries that Chappell did not score off!