BRADNINCH are heading to regional finals day of the Vitality Club T20 Cup after dumping Bristol then Newport out of the competition at the area final stage.
Bradninch, the Devon champions thanks to a win over Sandford in last month’s final at Plympton, crushed Bristol by eight wickets in the quarter-final match-up at Bridgwater on Sunday.
Bristol were bowled out for 143 in the last of their 20 overs – spinner Josh Farley having a field day with a five-for-14 haul – which Bradninch knocked off with more than four overs to spare.
Tim Piper made a half-century on the chase and skipper Gary Chappell made 46 during an opening stand of 95 that ended the game as a contest.
“Bristol played well and were set to get 180-plus until Josh Farley changed the course of the game with a five-fer,” said Chappell. “Chasing 144 was always comfortable.”
Newport, quarter-final conquerors of Cornish champions St Just, were dispatched by an identical eight-wicket margin in the area final.
Ross Acton (3-27) got stuck into the Newport top four before Mujahid Ilyas (52) led a fightback that took the Welshmen to 151 for nine.
There were two wickets each for spinners Chappell and Farley and two for seamer Mitch Pugh.
Piper (69) and Chappell (75) gunned a stand of 146 for the first wicket that left just four to win and seven overs to get them in.
“Newport had a couple of Glamorgan players, but we bowled really well to restrict them to 150,” said Chappell.
“Pipes (Tim Piper) was superb with the bat in both games, and all the bowlers were brilliant, backed up by some great catches,” said Chappell.
“Ross and Josh got big wickets, but Chad led the attack well and set the tone.”
Bradninch now travel to Basingstoke on Sunday, August 28 to play Home Counties Premier League side Banbury. The winners of that game will meet either Bexley and Hornchurch, who play earlier in the day.
“On to the national quarter-finals,” said Chappell. “I think we're the only Devon club other than Exmouth to get this far, which is a great achievement for the players and club.
“The next round is a step up but we're playing well so who knows?”
The final, at a venue that has not been confirmed yet, is on September 11.