AFTER weeks of fine weather, you could tell the Devon Cricket League returned last Saturday, as rain ruined all three Sandford Cricket Club matches that were due to be played, as were all other games in the county.

All three games started, but were called off within the first hour of play having commenced.

The 1sts travelled to Plymouth for a Premier Division game with a slightly understrength side, and having elected to bat first, soon found themselves in trouble. When the rain came after 11 overs, Sandford had succumbed to 53 for 4. So it may not have been a bad thing that rain may have saved the day.

The 2nds didn’t have a game, as Uplyme and Lyme Regis had withdrawn from the League only a few weeks before the season was due to start.

The 3rds travelled to Buckfastleigh to take on Bovey Tracey 3rds in their first ever F Division Central match, and having won the toss and elected to field first, they had the home team grovelling at 37 for 4 after 17 overs when the inevitable rains arrived. Glyn Baker with 2-9 from 6 overs and young 15-year-old Will Hopkins 1-7 (5) creating the early damage.

The 4ths first-ever game – at home to Bideford 3rds – was called off after only 2.4 overs with the visitors 3 for 1. The wicket having been taken by Brian Leach, who became the first Sandford player to take a wicket for all four teams.

This coming Saturday, the 1sts are due to play at home to Exeter (12.30pm start), the 2nds travel to Teignmouth and Shaldon, the 3rds are at home to Bideford 2nds and the 4ths travel to Plymtree to take on Cullompton 4ths, all with 1pm starts.

After Saturday’s bad weather, Sunday was bright and breezy. As such, Sandford’s North Devon League game against North Devon took place in beautiful conditions, and what an amazing game it was.

Sandford won the toss and asked North Devon to bat first. They may have been questioning that decision after North Devon’s allotted 40 overs, as the visitors notched up an impressive 316 for 7, with their opener Jay Rothery scoring an incredible 180 from only 100 balls, which included 11 sixes and 18 fours. Ed Wilson with 33 (3 fours and a six) was the only other batter to pass 30. The only Sandford bowler who didn’t take too much stick was young Will Hopkins 1-23 (5), although veteran Pete Steer did finish with 3-57 (7).

However, in reply, Sandford’s 17 year old openers Joe Hopkins and Ben Handley did something no one would have expected of them – they put together an opening partnership of 240 before Joe was eventually out for a remarkable 107 (93 balls, 16 fours and a six).

Ben Handley was then joined by Tom Gidney, and together they reached their target finally finishing on 320 for 1 in 34.4 overs. In doing so Ben scored his first ever century for Sandford, to complete a remarkable victory for the home team, finishing on 146no (97 balls, 15 fours 4 sixes). Tom Gidney was on 25no (3 fours) when the winning runs were scored.

This coming Sunday, the team travel to Hatherleigh with a 1pm start hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Phil Matten