CRICKET is a funny old game.

It is usually assumed the more runs in a game, the better the game will be. Last Saturday (August 19) at Creedy Park proved that theory completely wrong.

Having won the toss, the Plympton captain asked Sandford to bat first.

Two hours later his decision looked liked the right one with his bowlers having bowled out the league leaders for only 123.

Sandford’s batting managed to get them in a right old mess against a good Plympton bowling attack, and in particular against the spin of Joshia Caunter (4-24 from six overs).

Only opener Ciarian Gray 47 (five fours) and middle order batsman Harrison Jones 26 (two fours and a six) showing any signs of defiance before he was tragically run out.

In the end, Sandford were bowled out for only 123 in 33.3 overs, and their hopes of maintaining the substantial lead they had the top of the division looked to be in tatters.

This thought was even more substantiated when Plympton opener Ben Privett took 15 off of Sandford skipper Jackson Thompson’s first over. However Sandford’s overseas star Dikshu Negi managed to dislodge the other opener in his first over to offer some hope.

A few overs later Negi was at it again, this time getting Devon player Elliot Hamilton superbly stumped by Adam Small to leave the score 27 for two. Hopes were raised!

However, a third wicket partnership between Ben Privett and Justin Wubbeling took the score to 85 before Privett, having already hit two fours in the over off spinner Jack Ford, tried his luck for a third time.

Thankfully he only found skipper Thompson at mid off.

Privett departed for 49 (seven fours and two sixes), and the floodgates had been opened.

Eighty five for two soon became 93 for seven, as Negi went to town on the Plympton middle order, with Wubbeling falling to the penultimate ball before tea for a steady, but unspectacular 28 (three fours). Suddenly Sandford were favourites.

With Fordy taking a wicket with the first ball after tea, and with Negi claiming another scalp in the next over, it was left to Fordy to finish off proceedings with the final wicket in his next over, and in doing so bowling Plympton out for 94 to record an unlikely 29 run win.

The last eight wickets had fallen for only 24 runs, with the last seven remarkably for only nine runs.

Talk about a change in fortunes. An incredible game of cricket in which Sandford thankfully came out on top.

Negi finished with the incredible figures of 7-23 from nine overs and Jack Ford 3-22 from 7.2.

The 17 points claimed from the victory helped Sandford maintain a 22 point lead at the top of the Division following Sidmouth’s win at home to Exmouth. So, if Sandford can manage a 19 or 20 point win at home to Heathcoat on Saturday (August 26) at Creedy Park, the Premier Division title will be theirs, with a game in hand.

CHANCE FOR SECONDS

The Seconds, on the other hand, had a difficult day, travelling to Chudleigh. Skipper Jelley inserted the home team who then proceeded to amass a formidable 256 for eight from their 45 overs.

Chudleigh skipper Adam Kent 70 (10 fours), Will Heather 50 (six fours), Mark Solway 38 (five fours) and Australian overseas Harrison May 27 (two fours and two sixes) creating the bulk of the damage.

For Sandford only ex-skipper Shaun Hawkins came away with any credibility, as he managed to take 5-40 from his nine overs.

In reply Sandford had no answer to Chudleigh’s overseas star, Harrison May, who annihilated the batting with a quick hostile spell of 7-24 from his nine overs.

A last wicket stand of 29 between skipper Chris Jelley 17 and Tudor Morgan-Huggett 13, managed to secure a second batting point for Sandford, and together with the four they managed for bowling eight Chudleigh batsmen out, meant that the Sandford boys still came away with six points from the game, despite an 156 run defeat.

Remarkably the six points gained still mean the Seconds remain in one of the two relegation spots, but ironically closed the gap to eight points to the team just above them (Ipplepen).

This still gives them a fighting chance to avoid the drop.

If they do manage to beat the odds, it will be some effort from the Seconds, as each week they are coming up against other Club’s first teams, who more often than not have an overseas star in their ranks, which is not a luxury afforded to our lads.

The Thirds did not have a game this week, and with their nearest rivals Devon Medics claiming a 19 point victory, the Thirds are still top of their division (H East) with a 16 point advantage, with both teams due to meet at Creedy Park on September 2, in their last game of the season.

This coming Saturday (August 26) the Firsts are home to Tiverton Heathcoat with a 12.30pm start.

The Seconds travel to third place Bideford Littleham and Westward Ho!, also with a 12.30pm start, and the Thirds are at home to Cullompton Thirds with a 1pm start.

Hopefully next week I’ll be able to report some more good news.

Phil Matten