WITH the Sandford Cricket Club 1st XI winning it was hoped the 2nds, 3rds and the new 4th XI would make it a clean sweep of victories last Saturday. However, it was only the 4ths who came through their first full game with an impressive victory.

The 2nds travelled to Teignmouth to play Teignmouth and Shaldon and suffered a 69 run loss.

Teignmouth amassed a formidable 256 all out in 44.5 overs, which at least gave Sandford full bowling points.

Alastair Cliffe (70 (6 fours 2 sixes) and Todd Ballman 60 (8 fours and a six) were the mainstays of the home side’s innings, together with former Sandford player Liam Gardner weighing in with 26 (2 fours and a six) at no.10.

Sandford bowlers didn’t help their cause as they accumulated 38 wides in their total of 44 extras.

Praison Alias with 4-36 (7.5 overs), Tom Maidment 2-59 (9) and Ollie Knight 2-48 (7) were the main Sandford wicket takers.

In response Sandford openers Jon James 26 (5 fours) and newcomer Ben Chaloner 41 (7 fours and a six) got the Sandford reply off to a decent start, and with Tom Maidment 32 (3 fours 2 sixes) and the score at 112 for 3, a win still looked on.

However, Tom’s demise at 112 saw a collapse to 150 for 8 as the middle order disintegrated, the eventual losing total of 187 was only boosted by a late order cameo of 39 from skipper Shaun Hawkins (2 fours 3 sixes).

For the home side Joshua Couch knocked the stuffing out of the Sandford middle order finishing with 4-25 (9).

Despite the loss, Sandford still accumulated 9 points and will move on to play Exeter 2nds at Creedy Park this Saturday with a 1pm start.

Phil Matten