Devon Cricket Board - Sandford defeat not a disaster

Sandford defeat not a disaster

SANDFORD’S eight-wicket defeat by Exmouth hasn’t made it much harder to dodge the drop from the Premier Division as most of the teams around them lost as well.
Adrian Small made a top score of 54 against the team he used to captain as Sandford were limited to 169 for nine in 50 overs.
Exmouth had the runs knocked off inside 29 overs with Bob Dawson and Richard Baggs leading the way with half-centuries.
Defeat leaves Sandford one off the bottom of the table, 15 points behind Torquay and 28 in arrears of Heathcoat.
Sandford were 31 for six and 42 for seven after an early duffing up from Trevor Anning (4-18), which was followed by wickets for Ollie Dawe and Gary Chappell (3-19).
Small and Rory Millar (27) put on 87 in 25 overs to keep the Exmouth bowlers at bay. Small went first, lbw to Andrew Buzza after a 105-ball stay.
Miller went 17 runs later, but Exmouth were kept out to the end by Pete Steer, who flogged 31 off 25 balls to earn Sandford a couple of bonus points in the final four overs.
Exmouth made a solid start through Sandy Allen (27) and Baggs, reaching 48 in the first eight overs.
Baggs fell for 63 at 82 for two, which left former Devon captain Dawson (53no) and Seb Benton (14no) to tie up the lose ends.
Skipper Jamie Palmer said the size of the defeat was a blow, even against a side as strong as Exmouth.
However, he was able to pick out some positive points as well.
“A disappointing result again for us,” said Palmer.
“Anning and Chappell both bowled superbly - we had no answers early on - and at 42 for seven there was no way back.
“Adrian Small and Rory Millar showed the sort of fight and application we will need to see from everyone if we are serious about playing at this level next year.”
It doesn’t get any easier for Sandford this Saturday as they are at home to leaders Sidmouth.

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