Honiton 2nds opener almost carries his bat in the defeat at Bradninch

Honiton 2nds were unfortunate to go over to Bradninch for an F Division East game where they came up against a home side – the 2nd XI to a Premier Division team – that included a regular in the senior side last year and he made all the difference on the day.

Honiton skipper Andrew Lapping won the toss and opted to bat and his batsmen managed to pots a total of 171-6. This despite an eight over spell from former 1st XI all-rounder Chris Acton that saw him finish with figures of 1-2, bowling no fewer than 43 dot balls!

Opener Pete Beighton almost carried his bat! He was eventually run out with just four deliveries of the 40 overs remaining and he trooped off with 29 to his names, score from 112 balls faced!

Phil Tansley, batting at number six, faced just 34 balls for his contribution of 43 and skipper Lapping, batting at four, scored 19.

The Bradninch answer was to send out Acton – and Devon Over-50s player Paul Nott and the two – who are brothers-in-law – took their side to within 13 runs of victory when Acton was bowled by Phil Tansley for a hard-hitting 83. Third change Will Cowley did claim two wickets in as many deliveries before the end, but the home side reached the winning line with two balls of the 21st over remaining. Cowley ended with 2-26 from 2.4 overs and the other bowling figures were Phil Tansley 1-37 from eight, Alan Ostler (0-31 from four), Richard Hill (0-31 from six) and Harry Court (0-46 from three).

There was an act of good captaincy when, before the start of young Courts third over – skipper Lapping was heard to say: “Keep going young Harry, the only way you will learn and get sound experience is by bowling to players of this quality – it doesn’t matter what happens – what’s more important is you learn about the right areas to bowl in, to such players.”