WITH a team missing four of its leading lights, Sandford's First XI cricketers were always going to be playing against the odds to achieve a positive result last Saturday when they made the short trip to current Premier League leaders Exeter.

Having won the toss and electing to bat, the loss of a couple of early wickets didn't help their cause, but 18-year-old opener Joe Hopkins did his best to hold the innings together with a solid knock of 52 (seven fours), before he was out in the twenty-sixth over with the score on 112 for five.

With only Praison Alias 22 (two fours) the only other batter to score more than 20, 147 for five became 164 all out after 43.2 overs. Disappointing, but at least three batting points.

Sam Read 3-22 (10), Zack Vukusic 2-26 (8), Seb Linnitt 2-18 (6) and Josh Nott 2-20 (4) did the damage from which Sandford never really set up a decent enough score for Exeter to hunt down.

And so it proved as Exeter's reply got off to a rapid start with opener Oliver Gribble leading the way with 75 not out (11 fours), well supported by Seb Linnitt 33 (six fours). They added 68 for the second wicket in only 13 overs. As a result a revenge seven wicket victory for an earlier season loss at Creedy Park, was achieved after 32 overs with the Exeter score on 165 for three.

Praison Alias's efforts at least gave Sandford a bowling point with his 2-23 off six overs.

On Saturday the Firsts entertain in-form Cornwood at Creedy Park with a 12.30pm start.

Last Thursday the Firsts, and I use the term loosely (only five regular first teamers were available), suffered defeat at the hands of Tavistock in the quarter-finals of the Tiflex Devon T20 competition at Creedy Park.

Tavistock were asked to bat first and rattled up a formidable 220 for eight after their 20 overs with opener James White smacking an incredible 139 from only 60 balls (21 fours, five sixes) to set his side up with a great chance of victory.

He was well supported by his Devon fellow opener Elliot Hamilton 33 (three fours and a six), but 123 for one and then 170 for two, saw the rest of the innings subside to 220 for eight.

Former skipper Jackson Thompson 3-30 (4) and second team skipper Shaun Hawkins 2-25 (3) did their best to arrest the run fest, but the remaining inexperienced Sandford bowlers unfortunately were sent around the park.

In reply, despite losing a couple of early wickets, including captain for the day and in-form batter Harry Southgate for 20, Sandford progressed to 116 for two before James Theedom, in his first game back after injury, departed for a quickfire 23.

Although JT departed soon after for an excellent 71 off of only 30 balls (11 fours, three sixes), Joe Hopkins 31 – 23 balls (three fours) and Shaun Hawkins 41 – 21 balls - (three fours, three sixes) did their best to resurrect the position. When Shaun was out at 184 for six, remarkably the target had been reduced to 37 off of only five overs and an improbable victory was still on the cards.

However Hoppo was run out at 213 for eight, and although only eight runs for victory were still needed off the last over, the final two wickets fell quickly, and Sandford were dismissed for 214 in 19.3 overs to lose by six runs in a tremendous game of T20 cricket.

Tom Clarke 2-25 (4), Elliot Hamilton 2-49 (4), James McGahey 2-33 (4) and Shaun Daymond 2-37 (3.3) were the main wicket takers for Tavistock, and we wish them well on Finals Day this coming weekend at Cornwood.

Phil Matten