By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE AT HAREWOOD PARK
GARY Chappell’s Midas touch with the Devon Cup continued as he led Bradninch to a six-wicket win over Sandford in this season’s final.
Chappell had already won the Twenty20 cup three times before finals day at Plympton CC on a sweltering Sunday – twice as skipper of Exmouth (2014, 2015) and again as Bradninch captain last season.
Having disposed of Bovey Tracey by 54 runs in the morning semi-final round, Bradninch were in no man’s land at 65 for four chasing 138 to win. Mitch Pugh had just been dismissed for 26.
Eliot Acton was the next man in and the unbroken stand 76 between him and Dan Hardy put the game to bed.
The game got away from Sandford once and for all between overs 13, 14, 15 and 16 when Hardy and Acton gorged themselves to the tune of 51 runs.
Hardy wrapped it up once and for all with a boundary off Tudor Morgan-Huggett that sealed victory with exactly three overs to spare.
Acton overtook Hardy from a standing start – two sixes helped – to reach 41 not out. Hardy was unbeaten on 35.
Sandford owed skipper Richard Foan for a sizeable chunk of their total of 137 for nine.
Foan went in when Sandford had just lost Chad Classen and Jack Ford in successive balls Chad Classen and were five for two midway through the second over of the match.
By the time Foan was bowled by Ross Acton for 66 – three sixes and seven fours – Sandford were 95 for six.
Tyler Morgan-Huggett (13) and Harry Everett (13no) kept the scoreboard moving in the later overs.
Classen, Pugh and Josh Farley claimed two wickets each for Bradninch.
Chappell accepted that Sandford were not at full strength due to county calls and other commitments, but said that should not detract from the worth of his side’s win.
“Sandford were obviously missing a few big players and we didn't play to our best, but bar some clean hitting from Foany and a wobble in the chase, it was fairly convincing,” said Chappell.
“It's great to retain the trophy, particularly in a format where anything can happen.”
Foan had no complaints about the outcome, but would like to see the different elements that comprise Devon Cricket talking to each other to avoid a clash of fixtures in future years.
“Bradninch deserved the win and good luck to them in the national rounds of the ECB competition,” said Foan.
“Let's hope next year a date can be arranged to maximise availability and make sure the best players are on show.”
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Piper (49) and Pugh (46) were the primary run scorers for Bradninch in their semi-final win over Bovey, who only got as far as 143 for seven in reply.
Sandford’s route to the final was equally convincing. Jack Ford (43) top scored in a tally of 172 for eight. Plymouth were effectively out of it at 82 for seven in reply and had reached 126 for nine when time ran out.
Semi-finals
Bradninch 198-5 (M Pugh 46, T Piper 49, R Acton 26; O Clifford-Bourne 2-34), Bovey Tracey 143-7 (W Christophers 43, A Kopparambil 35, M Kakar 37; C Classen 2-23, M Pugh 2-24). Bradninch bt Bovey by 54 runs.
Sandford 172-8 (J Ford 43, H Everett 20, R Glass 28; A Talbott 2-17, J Hagan-Burt 2-23), Plymouth 126-9 (J Hagan-Burt 33, A Talbott 22; J Ford 2-20, H Everett 2-18). Sandford bt Plymouth by 46 runs.
Final
Sandford 137-9 (R Foan 66; C Classen 2-18, M Pugh 2-23, J Farley 2-33), Bradninch 141-4 (E Acton 41no, D Hardy 35no, M Pugh 26; J Griffiths 3-29). Bradninch bt Sandford by 6 wkts.
