AFTER the three defeats on the previous week Sandford Cricket Club got back to winning ways even though the Third XI didn’t bowl a ball as their opponents Kentisbeare Second XI conceded.
The First XI travelled to rejuvenated Hatherleigh and once again bowled their hosts out for a very restricted score of 149.
Jamie Palmer took three for 25 and there were two wickets apiece for Jack Ford and Jake Griffiths.
At 74 for five it looked as though once again the batting was going to let the side down.
Having taken three for 35 with the ball Jackson Thompson then strode out to the middle and scored his maiden undefeated half-century for Sandford.
He finished up on 53 off 65 balls and had good support from Ciaran Gray who scored 25, as Sandford got home by three wickets.
The win keeps their hopes of winning the league title alive and will want to follow up this result with a win against Paignton this Saturday at Creedy Park.
It was a similar story when the second XI entertained Ottery St Mary First XI. Tyler Morgan Huggett had bowled his best spell of the season taking three for 13 off his nine overs and he been well supported by brother Tudor, two for 23, Shaun Hawkins two for 10 and Pete Steer with two for 30.
At 53 for six it looked like a victory was far off but once again the cool head of young James Theedom steered the Seconds to a two wicket victory. James top scored with 39 and was supported with knocks of 18 by Pete Steer (turning in a man of the match performance), Shaun Hawkins and Jon James.
This win hopefully keeps any threat of relegation firmly off the radar especially as three out of the last four fixtures are against teams at the bottom of the league.
On Sunday, August 7 the Second XI travelled to Ivybridge to play Uplyme First XI in the semi-final of the Richard Tidball Insurance Cup.
The rules of the competition mean that many regular members of the team were excluded from selection so unfortunately this led to a defeat by 68 runs.
Chris Jelley is to be congratulated on scoring 48 runs and taking two for 19 in his four overs.
Fixtures:
Saturday, August 13 - First XI v Paignton with a 12.30pm start.
Devon Under 18s will be playing Buckinghamshire at Creedy Park on Tuesday, August 23, Wednesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 25 each day at 11.00am.
by Mike Canning