SANDFORD Cricket Club Thirds made the short journey to Shobrooke Park last Saturday to take on their Second XI in a long-awaited “local derby”. Like Sandford 3rds, Shobrooke 2nds are also having a good season.

Batting first with a much stronger looking batting line-up than in past weeks, Sandford scored steadily throughout their order with skipper Alex Stevens 20, Jonno Handley 21, Ben Clement 33, Toby Pennington 22 and usual 2nd team captain Shaun Hawkins (unable to play away due to a family commitment) showing the way with 82 from 89 ball (2 sixes and 7 fours), as Sandford rattled up 218 for 9 off their 40 overs.

For Shobrooke, Jamie Delling 3-46 (8), Dave Manning 2-31 (8), and Ben Trenaman (2-34 (6) taking the Shobrooke bowling honours.

Apart from skipper Andy Bridgeman with 52 (5 fours), and lower order batter Mike Barlow 28 (1 six, 2 fours), no other batter reached 20 as Shobrooke were eventually bowled out for 163 after 33.1 overs to give the Sandford lads a 55 run victory.

Ben Clement 3-26 (6), Joe Saunders 3-32 (4) and Jason Matten 2-28 (8) did the damage for Sandford.

The 20 points gained keeps Sandford in 3rd place in G Division Central with a home game against North Devon 3rds next Saturday at Creedy Park, 1pm start. The boys will be looking to gain revenge over an early season away defeat.

On Sunday the 3rds played F Division side Filleigh in the Richard Tidball Insurance Cup at Creedy Park, and narrowly lost by six runs to go out of the competition.

Batting first Filleigh knocked up 145 all out in their 20 overs, led by S.Kent 44 and P.Buckley 29.

Jason Matten 3-17 (4) and Tom Harding 2-35 (4) did their best to restrict their visitors scoring rate.

In reply openers Rhys James 65 (9 fours) and Steve Lyons 22 (2 fours) got their side off to a good start with a 1st wicket stand of 77. However as three wickets fell on 112, it was left to skipper Jason Matten 30 (2 sixes, 1 four) to try and guide his team home. In the end tight bowling from A.Buckley 4-11 (3) guided the visitors to victory, as disappointingly time ran out for the Sandford lads.

Good luck to Filleigh in the next round.

Phil Matten