SANDFORD Cricket Club Thirds travelled to Westward Ho! last Saturday for a F Division Central game against Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! Seconds.

With an understrength side, it needed the regular third teamers to stand up and be counted. Unfortunately that generally didn't happen, with a couple of exceptions.

Batting first after winning the toss, Sandford were quickly in trouble at 29 for four with both openers being out first ball. Vice Captain Rob Stoyle did his best to at least put a score on the board, and although he finished on 40no (six fours), a lack of support saw the Thirds bowled out for only 98 in 33.4 overs.

D.Branch 2-16 (4), S.Bond 2-13 (6), A.Nehra 2-28 (8), J.Brown 2-13 (7) and S.Luxton 2-10 (1.4) were the BL&W destroyers.

BL&W only took 24.4 overs to reach 99 for four to win the game, with J.Weeks 28no liking the Sandford bowling for the second time this season, having smacked a century in their North Devon League win a couple of weeks ago.

Glyn Baker bowled excellently to finish with 2-10 from his eight overs, and fellow opening bowler Jack James 2-35 (8) at least gained Sandford a couple of bowling points. But basically a six-wicket defeat and only four points gained meant “a bad day at the office” for the Thirds.

This Saturday the Thirds are at home on the second pitch to Ipplepen Thirds with a 1pm start, hoping for a reverse of fortunes.

Phil Matten