WHILST the weather in Crediton last Saturday (April 18) ranged from lovely and warm in the morning, to biblical monsoon in the afternoon, thankfully Sandford Cricket Club’s First XI travelled to Paignton for their third fixture of the 2024 season.

They travelled in hope that they would maintain their perfect start to the season.

Little did they know the epic match that would follow, and the very unusual finish which saw them gain another win to go top of the Devon League Premier Division.

With Sandford’s captain, Jackson Thompson yet again winning the toss, he asked the hosts Paignton, to bat first.

Unfortunately for the home side they suffered an early loss when one of their openers, the impressive Harry Ward, was hit on the head and had to retire from the game. We obviously hope Harry will have no lasting effect and will make a full recovery soon.

This brought Harry’s brother Charlie to the crease to join skipper Noah Wright. They took the score to 70 before Wright was dismissed for 39, bowled by Sandford’s Northants bowler and Exeter University student Raphael Wetherall.

The score of 70 for one soon became 70 for three, as James Theedom and Wetherall again struck quickly to leave the home side reeling, including the wicket of Charlie Ward for 19.

Wickets then fell steadily throughout the Paignton innings, not helped by a rain stoppage, but in the end they were restricted to 167 for eight from 40 overs, instead of the usual 50.

Ollie Woodcock 25 and Abhay Negi 26 (Paignton’s overseas, and teammate in India of last season’s Sandford overseas Dikshu Negi – not related) did their best to push the home side’s scorer to a higher level, but upon their demises the lower order couldn’t get things moving in the right direction.

For Sandford, Wetherall finished with 2-32 from eight overs, Aryan Lakra 2-23 (8) and Jackson Thompson 2-20 (3) were the primary wicket takers.

Sandford would have been hopeful of knocking off the modest total set them, which due to Duckworth Lewis, was revised to 173 from 40 overs, without too much difficulty. But Paignton are a difficult side to beat at home, and as such Sandford were soon in trouble as the early order collapsed to 28 for four.

Enter last week’s heroes Jack Ford, and James Theedom. Together they took the score to 71 before Theedom fell for 22 (five fours).

Once again wickets fell regularly and at 137 for eight, the writing appeared to be on the wall.

However, Ford would have none of it, and together with no.10 bat Matty Jeacock they gradually edged the score towards the winning total, and at 165 a unique set of circumstances arose.

Whilst Paignton had been wheeling away at the Sandford batting order, they ran up against an issue with the time they took to do so. Having been informed at the start of the Sandford innings what their revised “cut-off” time was in which they should bowl their 40 overs, with the score on 169, Paignton’s bowling time ran out.

They were subsequently penalised 24 points by the umpires, due to the fact they still had four overs to bowl, and as such they were penalised six points for each outstanding over  i.e. 6 x 4 = 24. These runs were instantly added to the 169 Sandford had already scored to give the visitors a welcomed victory, and in doing so saw Sandford progress to the top of the league with a nine-point advantage over second placed Cornwood.

Jack Ford finished on 75 not out from 98 balls, including 11 fours. Whilst Fordy took the plaudits, he could not have done it alone, and with Matt Jeacock holding up his end whilst only scoring three runs from 18 balls, it allowed Sandford to win a remarkable game from which they gained 18 valuable points.

With a number of games falling foul to the weather, Sandford certainly appear to have had the “rub of the green”, in not only playing, but actually finishing and more importantly, winning their game.

For Paignton Negi took 3-34 from eight overs and Charlie Ward 2-37 (7).

At Creedy Park, where the Seconds were due to entertain Plymouth Seconds, and the Thirds Filleigh, all was set fair until just before the 1pm start when some nasty rain clouds appeared in the distance over Raddon Top.

As a result the shower that followed delayed any possible start to both games.

However the second pitch became playable within 40 minutes or so of the rain passing and Filleigh not only won the toss, but elected to bat first.

They pushed their score along to 50 without loss from 10 overs, when the inevitable happened. A rainstorm of biblical proportions arrived and completely washed out both pitches with the out field and squares looking more like rivers than cricket pitches.

Both games were abandoned with Sandford taking eight points from each game. In fairness the Thirds were probably grateful, as Filleigh are likely to be amongst the frontrunners for promotion this season.

The Seconds on the otherhand will possibly look at it as an unavoidable opportunity missed, as Plymouth had had selection problems, and had brought a very young side to Creedy with a couple of older hands thrown in for good luck, and to provide transport.

Despite the deluge on Saturday, quite remarkably the Creedy Park pitch was fit for the Devon League’s T20 Cup match with Bradninch and Kentisbeare (B and K) being the visitors last Sunday.

With Jackson Thompson yet again winning the toss he asked B and K to bat first. Sandford struck with only the second ball of the match as the visitor’s skipper Gary Chappell, nicked behind and was on his way for a duck.

A great sight for Sandford fans as Chappell has been a regular run-getter, and especially at Creedy Park.

However, fellow opener Yuvraj Singh, B and K’s overseas star, together with Tim Piper, took the visitors score to 120 before Piper fell for 68 from 56 balls including 10 fours.

Yuvraj departed soon after for 54 from 45 balls, with three sixes and three fours. B and K eventually scored 153 for five from their 20 overs. For Sandford no bowler took more than one wicket.

In response skipper Thompson went berserk in Sandford’s replay, scoring four fours off Yuvraj’s first over.

However, he soon departed in the next over for 16, and it was left to youngsters Adam Small and Lawrence Walker to keep the Sandford score ticking along.

They both departed LBW after Chappell introduced himself into the bowling attack – Small for 30 - five fours from 21 balls, and Walker 19 from 19 with one six and one four. The score was then 67 for three.

Praison Alias, Sandford’s second team overseas player, showed what he could do and hit a rapid 21 from 18 balls, one six and a four, before he departed with the score on 105 – 5.

Jack Ford tried to carry on from the day before, but when he was out his 18 left Sandford 14 short of victory with less than two overs to go. In the end the tail couldn’t wag enough to see the home team through to victory, and they fell three short on 150 for nine when time was called.

For B and K their bowling strength came to the fore with Mitchell Pugh 2-31 (4), Gary Chappell 2-23 (4), Dan Hardy 2-9 (2) and Josh Farley 2-22 (3) keeping the Sandford batters at bay. Best of luck to B and K in the rest of the competition.

On Wednesday this week, the Second teams of each club face each other in the Second XI T20 competition. 

Whilst at the weekend the Firsts entertain Plympton with a 12.30pm start at Creedy Park, the Seconds and Thirds travel to Paignton Seconds and Seaton Seconds respectively, both with 1pm starts.

COMMUNITY LEAGUE

The 2024 Community League programme started a couple of weeks ago with the usual miscreants taking part. The opening game this year was between Graphic and Crediton Milling.

The Mill appear to have taken on a YTS format with their team this year, and this proved too much for Graphic, as the Mill’s first three batsmen all had to retire having scored 27, 25 and 28 respectively.

In the end their overall total of 149 from their 20 overs proved too many, as Graphic were eventually restricted to only 128 before their time ran out, which included five Run Outs – yes five!

The following night Sandford Cricket Club’s Development XI took on Sandford Football Club. The youngsters found the going tough against the Ford’s footie players.

Four batsmen had to retire having scored 25 or more in a final total of 172. In reply the Development team rattled up 147, which in the circumstances was quite respectable, with youngster Ollie Knight smashing 25 including three sixes.

The final game of the First round saw the Rugby Club pitch up against the Three Little Pigs, last year’s winners.

The Pigs were determined not to take too many prisoners, and soon had the Rugby Club on their knees.

Remarkably Barny Butterfield scored 30 not out (his highest score in any form of cricket), but an eventual total of 120 for nine was never going to be enough.

The Pigs then strolled to victory in only 14.1 overs, which will give them a big advantage in overall run rates with Will House, Josh Davey and Alex Stevens all having to retire.

Phil Matten