THE weekend saw Sandford Cricket Club’s First and Second Elevens climb to the top of their respective leagues and with two games to go the Third XI kept their slim hopes of promotion alive by defeating the team immediately above them and who have one less game to play.

I have been reporting quite frequently this season of our teams bowling out the opposition for a reasonable total only to then find that batting was still far from easy and the target quite often seemed a long way off.

Last Saturday was no different for Sandford’s visit to bottom of the league Plymouth.

Jack Ford continued his fine form with the ball taking four for 26 and was well backed up by Jamie Palmer (two for 30) and skipper Richard Foan (two for 39) as the hosts were hurried out for 144.

Having to bat before tea and without the explosive start often offered by Sandy Allen the team limped to 52 for five at the interval.

Another quick wicket then followed at which point Harrison Jones was joined in the middle by Jack Ford. The pair calmly got about the business of compiling a stand and with Harrison finishing undefeated on 76 and Jack on 21 the pair saw the job done.

The four wicket victory propels Sandford to the top of the league as other results went favourably.

This visit almost certainly defines whether the title will be returning to Creedy Park so a good performance at Tiverton Heathcoat is hoped for.

The statistics for the Premier League show that Sandford have four of the top 15 run getters and three of the top 12 wicket takers proving that the side is very well balanced.

The Second XI had a slightly more unexpected victory against Uplyme who are the league leaders, had beaten Sandford in the away fixture and more recently in the semi-final of the Corinthian Cup.

I believe it fair to report that the victory by 143 runs was achieved without three or four of the key players available showing the true strength in depth of the club at the moment.

Sandford were all out for 217 with Tylor Morgan-Huggett top scoring on 64. He was well supported by Pete Steer, 48, Tom Gidney, 25, and then some very useful runs from Elliott Butterfield who finished unbeaten on 15.

The league leaders were always stuttering in their response but an inspired bowling change just blew them away.

Greg Lewis, making an appearance for the first time in weeks, was brought on to bowl as fifth change and in just over four overs produced incredible figures of five for six.

Pete Steer took two for 36 to back up his fine knock.

With other results going their way this has put the Second XI top of their league with a visit of already relegated Upottery on the fixture card.

Is B Division cricket on its way to Creedy Park?

The Third XI are 28 points behind Woodbury and Newton St Cyres so realistically have to take maximum points from their last two games and hope that Woodbury manage to lose on the final weekend.

Jack James smashed another 74 not out and was joined by Alex Stevens who scored 36 and Rob Stoyle 29 as Sandford set their hosts a target of 227.

Matt Theedom made sure they got close, but not too close, as he took three for 25 and Rob Stoyle took two for nine as Woodbury finished up losing by 23 runs.

Fixtures for Saturday, August 27

Second XI v Upottery - 1pm start.

Third XI v Chagford Second XI - 1pm start (Newton St Cyres).

Mike Canning