Devon Cricket Board - Old boy van Wyk puts skids under Sandford

Old boy van Wyk puts skids under Sandford

SOUTH African paceman Laundre van Wyk did his old Sandford team-mates no favours at all as Bradninch clubbed their local rivals by 114 runs at Kensham Park.
Sandford engaged van Wyk as their overseas player last season, but the two parties went their separate ways following relegation from the top flight.
Bradninch didn’t hang about making van Wyk an offer for the current campaign as new skipper Dan Hardy set about strengthening his squad for a promotion push.
Bradninch were relegated from the top flight in 2013 and are keen to get back sooner rather than later.
And with a sizeable contribution from van Wyk, Bradninch made it five wins on the trot in the A Division to move up to fourth with 33 points to make up on second-placed Cornwood.
With leaders Brixham and second-placed Cornwood to play in the last five games, Bradninch are largely masters of their own destiny. The potential trip wire for Hardy and his men is the three games against bottom-half opposition – Barton, Lewdown and Hatherleigh – who will all be scrapping to stay up.
Charlie Walker, another of Hardy’s close season captures, made a top score of 108 in Bradninch’s hefty total of 296 for five.
Ross Acton, who had made two successive tons going into the game, was out for a seven-ball duck to Prince Masvaure (2-26), which gave Sandford early encouragement. They didn’t get a lot more!
Walker put on 115 for the second wicket with Hardy – he made 40 – and 65 more with Chris Metters (29).
Walker, who only faced 98 balls, and Metters went at 180 and 190, but there was no respite for the Sandford bowlers – all eight of them tried by skipper Jamie Palmer.
Former captain Tim Piper carved out 68 not out from 55 balls and tugged van Wyk along with him for a rapid 40 in a stand of 79 for the fifth wicket,
The last over was carnage – Piper smacking Russ Discombe for 26 off six balls.
Tom Williams (2-48) and Masvuare were the only Sandford bowlers to take more than one wicket.
Discombe’s figures were a painful none for 97 off eight overs.
Sandford, now resigned to a mid-table finish at best, were all out for 182 - and might be considered lucky to get that many.
Destroyer in chief was van Wyk, who took every wicket to fall as Sandford slumped to 85 for six. Discombe made 17 - he was second out – and no one else reached double figures up to that point.
A recovery of sorts was started by Masvuare, the only top-seven batter to avoid van Wyk’s clutches.
He put on 21 with Ashley Baker (17), who them added another 25 with Williams.
With Williams making 33 and skipper Jamie Palmer 24 at number 11, Sandford last four wickets put on 96.
The game had gone by then – van Wyk’s six wickets for 47 runs largely to blame – and both sides knew it.
Palmer said his side had their moments despite being out-played for long spells.
“Charlie Walker batted very well and set-up a good platform for Bradninch to score a big total,” said Palmer.
“I was once again impressed by young Tom Williams and Prince Masvuare, who both played superbly with ball and bat.
“Chasing a large total forced a few loose shots and unfortunately we lost the game in 15 overs.
“The pitch played a lot better than I thought it would and ultimately scoreboard pressure meant we lost heavily.
“Luandre bowled well to claim his six-fer.”

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