LET’S start with the good news! The advertised day of 20/20 cricket at Sandford Cricket Club last month fell foul to the weather and as a date could not be agreed for the three sides to come together on the same day the fixtures were played when they could be fitted in. But what matches they turned out to be.

Firstly was a fixture against Bovey Tracey who in their 20 overs racked up a massive 209 for five.

It’s never easy being a bowler in these short games as they are continually dispatched to all parts of the ground but Harry Everett and Ryan Glass managed to pick up two wickets each.

As it turned out Sandford passed that total with nearly two overs to spare as Adam Small top scored with 77 from 38 balls and was well supported by skipper Richard Foan who clubbed 42 off 13 balls and Lawrence Walker who hit 38 from 29 balls.

One glorious sunny Thursday evening Exeter were the visitors and Sandford batted first, scoring 178 for eight.

Ryan Glass top scored with 55 and there were useful contributions of 30 from Richard Foan and 20 from Shaun Hawkins.

The Exeter chase was good and made for an excellent evening of cricket but with both Jamie Palmer and Shaun Hawkins taking two wickets each the visitors finished on 176 for six and a Sandford victory by two runs!

This means that Sandford will now compete in the final rounds of the Devon T20 Cup but must await to see if they go straight through to Finals day or have one more match to determine if they qualify.

Now to the not so good news! For the first time this season not only did the First XI lose but all three Saturday teams finished up on the wrong end of the result.

Having jumped to the top of the league the previous weekend at the expense of Paignton there would have been high hopes going into the home fixture against the seaside visitors, but Lady Luck could not have dealt a crueller hand.

Firstly when fielding Josh King and Rickie Hopwood sustained serious injuries meaning that Richard Foan’s bowling options were severely restricted. Richard took four for 52, but the Paignton last pair stuck around for rather too long in reaching a total of 226 for nine.

The chase was always going to be difficult with two players going to be slightly handicapped when batting but Sandford’s cause was made that much more difficult when Ryan Glass departed first ball of the innings and then Richard Foan departed first ball of the second over! 0-2 was a terrible start and apart from Adam Small continuing his fine form with 50 and the first viewing of our Zimbabwe player Johnathan Campbell there was little else to cheer as the innings closed on 167.

Adam returns to school for another month and this could be coupled with the two injuries so some changes to the team should be expected for the next couple of weeks.

The Second XI travelled to Sidmouth and came up against a very strong Second XI containing many players with Premier League experience.

It was a very one sided game as all the bowlers were given some punishment.

Sidmouth scored 285 for seven with Tom Williams taking three for 42 and Brian Leach two for 56.

There was never the real possibility of a victory chasing such a total but James Theedom showed great maturity in staying at the crease and finishing undefeated on 55.

Supporting roles were played by Chris Blake, 34, and Tom Williams 24. The Third XI used nine bowlers as they dismissed Culmstock Second XI for 139. Neil Maud, Finn Warren and Jack Perry all took two wickets.

This development XI found batting difficult and it was only the old stagers of Matt Theedom, 60, and Neil Maud, 18, who made any decent contribution with the bat as Sandford were bowled out for 121.

Fixtures this week

Tomorrow (Saturday, June 12), Second XI v Braunton - 1pm start. Sunday, June 13, Ladies v Taunton Deane - 1.30 pm start. Tuesday, June 15, Yeoford v Sandford Youth - 6.15 pm start.

Mike Canning