IN one of the most incredible innings ever seen at Creedy Park, in any form of cricket, in Sandford Cricket Club's Community League, Jake Power from Crediton Milling, smashed an incredible 28 runs from only five balls - 4,6,6,6,6, to give the men from the Mill an incredible victory over Sandford Football Club, and in doing so, gave his team a great chance of playing in this year's Final against the Three Little Pigs on Sunday, July 20.

With the game having been restricted to only 10 overs per side, due to rain delaying the start, the Football Club batted first and were reduced to 27 for six in only the 5th over of the game.

Thanks to 27 from Alex Buckingham, an unlikely hero to be fair, they eventually crawled their way to 79 for 7 after their 10 overs.

Jake Power 3 for 13, Stu Moss 2-9 and Paul leach 2-17 created all the early order mayhem for the Football Club.

When it was their turn to bat, the Mill started very slowly, and after five overs were only 22 for two needing 58 to win from their last five overs.

Enter Jake Power. In an astonishing exhibition of clean hitting he smashed 28 runs from the only five balls he faced, and in doing so changed the whole face of the game.

Along with Mark Gulley who had to retire on 26, and his captain Rob “Nugget” Smith 15 not out, they saw their team to victory after only 8.1 overs - the last 58 runs coming in only just over three overs. Amazing!

This victory for the Mill gives them a great chance of reaching their first Community League Final as they remain unbeaten.

However they still have one more match to play against the reigning champions - the Three Little Pigs - on Finals Day, who have already qualified for the Final.

In other games of Round 4, the Rugby Club easily defeated Sandford's Development XI by 75 runs. The Rugby Club wracked up 158 for six in their 20 overs with Ant Evans 27, Jay Harris 25 and skipper Simon Saunders 25 not out, along with 32 extras, scoring the bulk of the runs.

For the Development XI youngsters Tom Harding 2-19 and Max Collins 2-15 were the most successful bowlers. This victory still gives the Rugby Club a chance of playing in the Final.

Unfortunately the Development XI's lack of batting power came back to haunt them yet again as they subsided to 83 all out in only the 15th over of their innings.

In the other game of the 4th Round, the Three Little Pigs annihilated Graphic by 31 runs, and in doing so set a new Community League record of 190 for eight in their 20 overs, having lost their previous highest score record to the Rugby Club a couple of weeks before.

For the Rugby Club, knocks from Dan Yendell 28, Bailey Carbines 25 and Ben Wonnacott 26 and an incredible Community League first half century from Jack James of 51 not out, having had to retire and then going back into bat when the rest of the order had been dismissed, saw their side to their eventual total of 190.

Ben Trenaman with two for 27 was the only Graphic bowler to come away with wicket taking respectability.

In reply, Graphic produced their best score of the season, as they chased down their huge target.

In fairness they made a good effort, finishing on 159 for five, with Freddie Elston, still trying to work out how he managed 28 before having to retire, along with skipper Sam Dyne 25, his brother Matt Dyne 26 and Lewis Copp, having retired and then allowed back in, finishing on 33 not out..

The last round of matches will be on Finals Day on Sunday, July 20 starting at 11am with Crediton Milling v Three Little Pigs, followed at 1.15pm with Graphic v Sandford Development XI for the wooden spoon, and finally at 3.30pm Sandford Football Club v Crediton Rugby Club.

The Final will be at 6pm with Three Little Pigs due to play either Crediton Milling or Crediton Rugby Club for the Barrie Sparham OBE Memorial Trophy. Every game will have something on it.

At this point I'd like to thank my wife Pam for the amazing meals she has produced after each game, and to Morrisons for their generosity towards the cost of these meals.

Phil Matten