Devon Cricket Board - Premier: Thompson shatters batting record

Premier: Thompson shatters batting record

MADE IT: Jackson Thompson lifts his bat to celebrate reaching his double ton

BRADNINCH batsman Jackson Thompson has an indelible place in Devon Cricket League history after slamming a double hundred against Budleigh Salterton.

In 43 seasons of Premier cricket no batsman had reached 200 until Thompson did it against the side propping up the table.

Budleigh batsman James Burke went close earlier in the season when he made 196 against Plymouth – and that was the highest score in the top flight for a generation.

Nick Folland’s 188 against Bovey Tracey lodged in 1988 had been the record before that.

Thompson, Bradninch’s match professional this season and a former staffer with Gloucestershire didn’t stop at a double ton: he went on to make 222.

The stats make brutal reading for Budleigh bowlers. Thompson faced just 108 balls and fired 26 fours and 114 sixes.

Of the Budleigh bowlers only Matt Kidd and former Bradninch captain Joel Muphy (3-53) went for less then seven an over. Matt Plowman was none for 96 off 10 overs. Ouch!

Thompson put on 78 for the first wicket with Dan Hardy, 75 for the second with Greg Maher (19), 70 for the third with captain Tim Piper (22) and 92 for the fourth with Ross Acton (37).

Burke (2-71) finally removed Thompson with the score on 315 when he had him caught by Lloyd White out on the deep mid-wicket boundary on the second grab.

Bradninch finished on 360 for seven – nine runs short of the Premier team batting record set by Plymouth against Budleigh earlier this season – then bowled the Otters out for 228 to win by 132 runs.

Former Devon captain Bob Dawson made 85 opening up – he was one of five scalps for Paul Nott (5-30) and Lloyd Murrin made 60 after coming in during a Budleigh collapse from 132 for four to 143 for eight. Five wickets fell in 18 balls.

Bradninch remain in the bottom two with 17 points between them and safety with leaders Bovey Tracey to play this Saturday.

Skipper Piper said Thompson’s record-breaking show had given everyone at the club a boost for the battles ahead.

“JT didn’t just beat the record, he smashed it,” said Piper.

“When we were 50 for none off five - JT on 40! -people were whispering this could be his day. They were right!

“Some shots were outrageous, some classical – and for those who don't know him like we do, it must have been almost unbelievable.

“We know the player that he is and were sure something like this was going to happen this year. It was just about when.

“Being the professional he is, he delivered in the most important game of our season so far. It was a must win game and Jackson made sure of it.

“He gives the club a real lift. He's exciting to watch and gets people talking.

“JT has the talent of a First Class cricketer and he has the capability of making the standard we play seem like a midweek friendly.

“He is the most talented cricketer in this league and the best player we have ever had at Bradninch”

Piper didn’t miss out Nott either when he was handing out the pats on the back.

“Paul Nott bowled an excellent spell of 10 overs,” said Piper.

“He is the kind of guy you want when your team is in a relegation battle.

“He has a lot of heart and keeps churning out some great bowling spells that earn us a lot of crucial points.”

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