FOLLOWING completion of the fourth round of matches in the Sandford Cricket Community League programme, this year’s finalists are confirmed with the Three Little Pigs and Sandford Football Club remaining undefeated.

Ironically they will play each other twice on Finals Day, as they are still to meet in the last “round robin” group matches before the final.

In the latest games, The Football Club played Graphic to confirm their place in the Final.

Having scored 157 from their 20 overs, with Jack Grinney 27 no, Rob Smith, Tom Grinney and Shaun Hawkins all retired on 25, to form the base of their score.

In reply, Graphic probably did as well as in any game they’ve played this season, just falling short of their target with 154 to lose by three runs.

Dave McCarthy 28 no and Simon Cartlidge 25 retired, kept their team in the hunt for their first victory, but in the end Glyn Baker kept his nerve to see his Football Club team home by taking three important wickets.

Another good game in this round saw Crediton Milling and Crediton Rugby Club pitched together, and although the Rugby Club claimed a 25 run victory, the result with five overs to go was very much in doubt.

The Rugby club notched up a good score of 167 from their 20 overs, with Simon Saunders 43 and Max Nikitakos 36 no doing the damage, as well as a record number of 41 extras forming the base of the Rugby Club’s total.  Dave Small did well for the Mill claiming three wickets.

The Millmen started off well with early order knocks of 24 from Will White, together with 28 from Mark Gulley and Jake Power and a late order 25 from Will Another.

Unfortunately for the Mill the Rugby Club’s bowlers were not so wayward with their bowling, and an eventual total of 142 was well short of the required target score.

The final game in this round saw the Three Little Pigs play the Sandford Cricket Development XI. The Development XI batted first and scored an admiral 135 in their 20 overs with good knocks from skipper Jon James 28 and Tom Harding 26, plus 21 from Sandford’s overseas star Aryan Lakra making his debut in CL cricket, but falling to an outstanding catch by Bailey Carbines on the boundary for 21.

Although not at full strength, Josh Woodland, Joe Rees, Dan Yendell and Jack James all took two wickets to keep the youngsters in check.

Jack James with a quickfire 33, Ben Wonnacott 34 no and 27 from Lee Waring guided their team to victory at 138 with plenty of overs to spare, despite losing eight wickets. Joe Saunders bowled well for the Sandford youngsters and took a couple of wickets.

The points after round four are LP 3 and SAFC 8, CRFC 5, SCC Development XI 3, CMC 2 and Graphic 0.

Finals Day to finish this season’s competition will be held at Creedy Park on Sunday, July 14 with an 11am start.

There will be a barbecue and the bar will be open all day so please go along and join in the fun. It really is a great day’s entertainment with the winners receiving the Barrie Sparham OBE Memorial Trophy.

Phil Matten