Devon Cricket Board - Piper bats Bradninch through to victory

Piper bats Bradninch through to victory

HATHERLEIGH’S climb away from the wrong end of the A Division stalled when they lost by two wickets to Bradninch.
Hatherleigh cracked along to 281 for seven in their 50 overs – Andy Bennett (62) just pipping Carl Schwarz (60) for top scorer.
Stand of the innings was one of 111 between Chris Jelley – he made 55 – and Schwarz which took the score to 152 for three.
Skipper Mark Lake (29) and Bennett added another 86 for the seventh wicket.
Soccer ref Bennett didn’t hang about as his 62 came off just 29 balls and included six fours and three sixes. Ross Acton took four for 32.
Bradninch literally went off in hot pursuit with openers Greg Maher (68) and Acton (82) cracking along to 136 after 21 overs.
Acton went first – he faced 59 balls and hit 12 fours and four sixes – and was among the four for 56 claimed by Rob Fishleigh.
Maher went at 183 for four and with Giann Botha and Jack Horton following shortly, Bradninch were slipping out of the game.
Skipper Piper batted through for an unbeaten 47 and with help from the tail in the shape of Will Greig (26) and Will Squire (19no) got Bradninch over the line with an over to go.
Hatherleigh, who go to Brixham this Saturday, are two places and 10 points clear of the second drop spot currently occupied by Abbotskerswell.
Skipper Lake said had Hatherleigh fielded as well as they batted, Bradninch would have left empty handed.
“We batted really well yet again, but dropped too many catches,” said Lake.
“Ross Acton was put down three times - twice before he had got to 10 - and Tim Piper early, plus a couple of others.
“It was a poor performance fielding wise but very happy with batting and still positives to take from the game.”
Piper said Bradninch made life hard for themselves at times, not that he was complaining too loudly.
“Hatherleigh set a solid platform with the bat and finished strongly, but we bowled badly as a team, barring a couple of exceptions,” said Piper.
“For a second week running we were missing one of our opening bowlers and perhaps a bit of control.
“I thought 250 was around par, but 282 was always going to be gettable but would be a seriously good chase.
“Ross Acton and Greg Maher got us off to the start we needed and we were ahead of the run rate for a while, which is where we wanted to be.
A few quick wickets put us on the back foot though.
“We dipped below the run rate required and were just hoping for a full game.
“It was great to get over the line in the end with some really good cameos from Will Greig and Will Squire.
“Everyone loves a big chase.”

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