SANDFORD Cricket Club Seconds continued on their run of good form with an outstanding performance against C Division East league leaders Tiverton Heathcoat Seconds away at Knightshayes last Saturday.

Batting first Sandford lads amazingly amassed 295 for 4 in their 45 overs, led by in-form Tom Gidney with an incredible 148 from only 108 balls including 16 fours and 2 sixes.

Together with opener Pete Steer 27 (4 fours), Gidders added 76 runs for the 2nd wicket, but it was when skipper Shaun Hawkins joined him at the crease that the fun really began.

A third wicket partnership of 139 in double quick time, eventually saw Tom depart for his 148 from only 234 runs scored.

An amazing knock. Shaun himself went on to score 58 from 58 balls (8 fours), but when he departed at 259, Byron Knowles joined the party and went to town with a brisk 33 (20 balls, 3 fours and a six) as the inning finally finished on 294 for 4.

Having previously been undefeated, Heathcoat’s cause was not helped as wickets began to fall regularly with only early order batter Dan Butler proving to be a thorn in Sandford’s side.

His knock of 40 out of 56 before he fell was the only thing that kept Heathcoat’s hopes alive, and at 110 for 9 the writing was on the wall.

However, a last wicket stand of 72 between Jack Tucker 63 (5 sixes, 6 fours) and no.11 Luke Thomas 28 (1 six, 2 fours) held up the inevitable.

Heathcoat were bowled out for 182 in 32.3 overs to fall to their first defeat, although they still lead the table by 8 points.

Wickets were spread evenly between the Sandford bowlers, but an impressive 3-37 (9) from 15 year old Alfie Butterfield proved decisive, as he decimated the Heathcoat middle order.

Ellie Bishop 2-43 (50) helped finish the tail off, but a great performance all-round, which firmly leaves Sandford in third place in their division.

Next Saturday the Seconds are at home to Exmouth Seconds with a 1pm start.