Devon Cricket Board - Murphy unfazed by Bradninch defeat

Murphy unfazed by Bradninch defeat

BUDLEIGH Salterton captain Joel Murphy takes his side into the derby clash against Exmouth unfazed by the 61-run defeat by Bradninch last time out.

Budleigh were faced with a hefty 332 to win- Jackson Thompson and Dan Hardy both making tons for Bradninch - and finished on 271 for nine in reply.

At one stage Budleigh were on course to win – they were 123 for none in the 19th over – and Budleigh were hardly in control.

Bob Dawson was on 70 and James Burke on 69 and looking for all the world set for a massive stand.

Thompson bowled Dawson then Paul Nott claimed Burke at 157 with the first ball he bowled to him.

Budleigh kept on going – Dickie Arnold (23), Kidd (20) and Eliot Rice (27) all chipped in, but the asking rate was too high to cope with.

Said Murphy: “We dropped Thompson on one – heartbreaking – and again on 70 which made a different game of it.

“We didn’t bowl that badly and I didn’t thing 332 to win was a massive target on that particular pitch.

“Had we got Thompson out when we had the chance it could easily have been a different match. The moral of that is you have to take your catches.

“The fact we got as close as we did I find encouraging. Bob and Burkie did well up top, but we kept going for it long after they had gone.

“If we can do that batting second we should keep believing we can win matches as we will.”

Bradninch captain Tim Piper had been quietly confident ahead of the game and his optimism was vindicated.

“It was a great win for us and a crucial one at that,” said Piper.

“It will give us some momentum that we can carry forward now after a slow start.

“We have got a lot of things to work on still, but we know what they are.”

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