IF entertainment is what you like, Sandford Seconds are the team to watch.

Talk about making life difficult for themselves, last Saturday, batting first on a superb wicket at Creedy Park, somehow they managed to slip to 34 for four after only 7.4 overs, against bottom-of-the-table Exmouth Seconds.

The recovery started with a fifth wicket stand of 52 between Praison Alias 26 (five fours) and Archie Osborne. The drinks break saw Praison depart soon after, and then enter young 18-year-old Elliott Butterfield.

Along with Archie, he added a further 119 runs for the sixth wicket, before Archie fell for an excellent 75 (eight fours and a six). It was then left for Elliott to guide the rest of his colleagues towards an eventual total of 182 for nine from their 45 overs.

Elliott eventually fell agonizingly short of what would have been a well-earned century, when he hit a ball, which he should have left (it would have been a wide), to point, and he was out for 95 (15 fours and a six). An excellent knock from such a young man, and especially in the desperate circumstances he found himself in when he came to the crease at 86 for five.

Sandford's innings closed on a formidable 282 for nine after their 45 overs, with Geoff Coombe 2-53 (nine), Elijah Pyne 2-40 (nine) and Miles Olczak 4-40 (50) providing the main problems for the Sandford batters.

And so with their chances of victory given an unexpected boost, the Sandford bowlers set about removing the early order Exmouth batters. However Exmouth had other ideas and an opening partnership of 56 in only 7.1 overs gave the visitors an early sniff of a remarkable victory.

Sandford Skipper Shaun Hawkins then removed opener Oliver French 22 (four fours) with his first ball of the afternoon, and after that wickets began to fall at regular intervals.

Once Will Gingell departed for 64 (10 fours), with the score on 119 for four, there was only likely to be one winner, as the Sandford bowlers tightened the noose. Eventually, Exmouth Seconds were restricted to 225 for nine when their overs ran out, and that was mainly due to a late burst of controlled hitting from no.10 batter Matthew Edworthy, who completed a notable half century 51no (seven fours) off the last ball of the match.

Following his 95, Elliott completed a good day with his wicketkeeping, as he took three catches and also made a stumping.

Bowling wise, skipper Shaun Hawkins took 4-27 (nine), and together with Pete Steer 2-18 (five), their accuracy made life difficult for the Exmouth batters to gain the momentum they needed. The 19-point 57-run victory was a welcomed return, considering the position they were in at the beginning of the match.

This coming Saturday sees the Seconds make the short trip over to Shobrooke Park for a top-of-the-table clash between two old rivals. The match at Shobrooke starts at 1pm.

Phil Matten