SANDFORD Cricket Club First XI’s Jekyll-and-Hyde season continued last Saturday following their visit to Premier League leaders Exmouth, when they returned home following a 104-run defeat.

After last week's superb victory over the 2024 and 2025 Champions Bradninch and Kentisbeare, hopes were high that going to current league leaders Exmouth may not have been quite the challenge they may have anticipated.

However, with four of last week's victorious team unavailable due to various reasons, this would make the challenge even greater, and so it proved.

Led by opener and Captain James Horler, he guided the rest of his batting order towards an almost insurmountable total of 329 for six in their 50 overs. He stroked his way to a superb 152 (15 fours, four sixes) off of 159 balls, ably supported initially by Cameron Kidd who creamed his way to 72 off only 49 balls (11 fours two sixes) batting at no.three, and in doing so gave the early innings the momentum it needed. Together they added 119 for the second wicket.

Dan Pyle 37 (two fours two sixes) then joined his captain to push the score to 214 for three, with a partnership of 95, but it was then left to Horler to see the rest through to 329 for six.

Twelve no-balls and 14 wides didn't help Sandford's cause, and neither did an injury to opening bowler Jamie Palmer, who could only bowl 4.5 of his potential maximum 10 overs. Matt Jeacock 2-57 (seven) was the only Sandford bowler to take more than one wicket.

Sandford's reply got off to a terrible start as they slipped to 34 for four, and then 64 for six. However, a seventh wicket stand of 75 between Ben Chaloner and Ryan Glass 27 (four fours), at least started to give the scoreline an element of respectability, before Glassy departed.

Chaloner was then joined by Matt Jeacock 28 (three fours) in an eighth wicket stand of 84 before Jeaks was run out at 223 for eight.

The only thing left, was to see if Ben could get his century, but unfortunately, even that was not meant to be, and on 93 he was caught and bowled, as the innings quickly subsided to 225 all out in 46 overs.

For the home team, opening bowlers Pete Turnbull 2-42 (10) and Noah Muskinanth 3-50 (10) did the early damage, and with Lawrence Greenway taking 2-47 (10), Sandford had no answer to the experienced Exmouth attack, but they at least earned seven points from their loss.

This coming Saturday the Firsts entertain Paignton at Creedy Park with a 12.30pm start.

Phil Matten