Devon Cricket Board - Sandford off the bottom

Sandford off the bottom

SANDFORD beat North Devon by four wickets to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.

Results elsewhere mean Sandford aren’t even in the bottom two as Cornwood, Torquay and Exeter have all slipped below them.

However, with Torquay to play this Saturday at Creedy Park, the picture at the bottom could change again.

North Devon were dismised for 158 in the 45th of 50 overs – Max Curtis making a top score of 54.

The Instow outfit were looking good at 135 for three – Ed Yeo (23) and Jason Hayes (37) making scores – then seemed to commit collective suicide.

Seven wickets fell for 23 runs as Ryamn Glass (3-28) and Russ Discombe (3-27) induced a selection of rash shots, which included three catches on the boundary.

Skipper Jamie Palmer (3-160 came back at the end to knock over last man Jack Hockin.

North Devon weren ‘t helped by injuries to Tom Allin, who pulled up after five overs, and Hayes, who didn’t move from slip when Sanford batted.

A healthy helping of wides in a grand total of 43 extras didn’t help North Devon either.

Discombe made 25, Adrian Small chipped in with 20 and by the time Laurence May was dismissed for 27 Sandford were almost there.

Luandre Van Wyk (11) and Shaun Hawkins (18no) pretty well wrapped things up.

Matt Westaway had three Sandford wickets for 48 runs and Jack Pudney two for 44.

Having lost every game they had started before Saturday, Sandford needed a win.

Skipper Palmer said Sandford were good value for the result as they stuck to the game plan.

“I won the toss, which was important, then we stuck to our disciplines well,” said Palmer.

“Russell, Ryan and myself all bowled well, then everyone chipped in with the bat.

“It's good to see players standing up and taking responsibility to get us over the line.

“We'll be looking to take momentum into Saturday’s game against Torquay.”

North Devon skipper Matt Westway said his batters needed to ask themselves some questions in the wake of the defeat.

“We started well – we were 130 for three – and ended up all out for 158 due to some pretty poor shots,” said Westaway.

“Three people were caught on the boundary trying to force the score along, thinking 200 was what we needed.

“Had we batted out our overs we would have been pretty close to 200, which would have been more competitive.

“Our total would have been harder to get if we had bowled with discipline and not so many wides. We gifted them way too many.

“Tom Allin lasted five overs before his back went and he couldn’t bowl, which did not help.

“We have got Heathcoat this Saturday and that’s now a huge game for us if we want to make something of the season.”

North Devon skipper Matt Westway said his batters needed to ask themselves some questions in the wake of the defeat.

“We started well – we were 130 for three – and ended up all out for 158 due to some pretty poor shots,” said Westaway.

“Three people were caught on the boundary trying to force the score along, thinking 200 was what we needed.

“Had we batted out our overs we would have been pretty close to 200, which would have been more competitive.

“Our total would have been harder to get if we had bowled with discipline and not so many wides. We gifted them way too many.

“Tom Allin lasted five overs before his back went and he couldn’t bowl, which did not help.

“We have got Heathcoat this Saturday and that’s now a huge game for us if we want to make something of the season.”

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