THIS season has been a remarkable one for Sandford Cricket Club, and last Saturday summed up how remarkable it has been.

The 1st team managed to win a game they never looked like winning, the Seconds recovered from an awful start to win and the 3rds also won a game they looked like losing.

The 4ths didn’t have a game. So three wins from three matches was a great return, especially considering two of the wins in particular, never looked like they were going to happen.

The 1sts hosted relegation threatened Sidmouth, and having won the toss the visitors decided to bat first.

They got off to a rapid start through openers Sam Elstone and Dan Powell. They put on 77 for the 1st wicket in 14.2 overs before Powell departed for 44 (5 fours, 2 sixes).

Elstone continued on his merry way, and together with Matt Matravers they took the score to 134 before Elstone was out for 72 (9 fours). Matravers was then joined by Luke Bess in a 4th wicket stand of 59 and when he was eventually out for 42 (5 fours), the score was 193 for 4.

Bess followed shortly afterwards for 31 (3 fours and a six), but the remaining batters failed to take advantage, and eventually Sidmouth’s innings closed on 241 for 9 after their 50 overs.

For Sandford, seamer Matt Jeacock was amongst the wickets with 3-57 (10), and together with young Ben Handley 3-35 (6) they managed to keep the Sidmouth total to a ‘gettable’ score.

Sandford’s reply, to say the least, was a bit of a shambles, with only Harry Southgate 36 (4 fours and a six) offering much resistance as they slumped to 123 for 7 on the chase.

At this point Overseas Tanbir Hayder was joined by Praison Alias. Together they took the attack to the bowlers, and runs started to flow, including a number of 4 Bye extras and No Balls. They added 79 runs for the 8th wicket before Tanbir was out for an excellent 48 (7 fours and a six).

Praison was then joined by Matt Jeacock and together they added a further 26 before Praison departed with the finishing line in view for a superb 50 (4 fours, 2 sixes).

Jeaks was then joined by last man Jamie Palmer, who doesn’t have the best batting record, but on this occasion batted with great aplomb.

They shared a last wicket stand of 16, with Jamie scoring the winning runs from the third ball of the last over with a massive six over deep mid-off to finish on 15no to ensure an improbable one wicket win for the home team. Jeaks finished on 9no.

With this being the last home game for the 1st team this season, they have finished with only one home defeat which is why they are second in the League, and now more-or-less assured of securing the Runners-Up spot as 3 points this coming weekend will secure second place.

For Sidmouth 18 year old Muhammad Kaleem bowled superbly to finish with 3-33 (10), along with Charlie Gaywood 3-59 (10), but this defeat means a lot of things will have to go in their favour this coming weekend to save them from relegation.

Phil Matten