I MAKE no apologies starting this week’s Sandford Cricket Club report with the Second XI game against Whimple as the outstanding performance of last weekend came from James Theedom.

His opening spell of two for 11 had the home team’s opening batsmen back in the pavilion as he produced an immaculate stint of swing bowling.

No other bowler could restrict the batsmen from freely scoring apart from Archie Osborne who sneaked in for two wickets himself.

This coupled with some rather average fielding and some distinctly poor catching meant that Whimple amassed 216 for four in their 45 overs.

Wickets started to fall at regular intervals and more ill-discipline could have hampered the run chase.

But having starred with the ball, James then showed maturity far beyond his years and while others floundered he just got on with his job of batting.

It ended with him scoring a career best unbeaten 93 and the match turned Sandford’s way when Jason Matten joined James and helped club some mighty shots on the way to a four-wicket victory.

This was a game that Sandford could have lost if it had not been for the composure shown by James and is a lesson that some of his teammates could learn from!

The First XI had a three-wicket win over Exeter when they chased down a revised target of 171 after the rain had affected the Exeter innings of 179 all out.

There was some tight bowling from Josh King, three for 20 and Jamie Palmer, two for 23, as well as Johnathan Campbell taking three for 58.

In the absence of Richard Foan celebrating the birth of his first child, Sandy Allen was skippering the side and top scored with 60.

Neil Bettis has agreed to cover the vacant spot left by Richard and it was great to see him score 37. There were a couple of mini collapses on the chase but the revised target was safely reached as Sandford consolidated its second position in the league.

Finishing off a superb weekend for the Kingfishers were the Third XI who trounced Kenn Second XI by nine wickets.

Glyn Baker took three for 16 and John James took two for six as Kenn limped to 84 for seven in its innings.

Ellie Bishop continued her run of fine form and she was joined by Alex Stevens who is beginning to amass some runs now in the third XI as they both finished undefeated on 35.

Fixtures this weekend: Saturday, July 10 - Second XI v Exmouth - 1pm start; Sunday, July 11 - Ladies v Exeter - 1.30pm start.

Advanced notice - Sunday, July 18 - Community League Finals Day; Sunday, July 25 - Devon County v Wales (also Monday and Tuesday).

Mike Canning