Sandford knock off 196 to win with nine overs to spare

SANDFORD’S season got back on track with a convincing six-wicket win over Ivybridge.

Second-placed Sandford had slipped behind leaders Hatherleigh after successive defeats to the table-toppers then Plympton. Luckily, results elsewhere stopped the chasing pack gaining ground.

Going into the halfway round of fixtures this Saturday – they face bottom side Plymstock – Sandford are 33 points behind the leaders and 19 clear of Budleigh in third.

Ivybridge were held to 195 for eight in their 50 overs – Harry Soloman hitting a top score of 30 – a total Sandford knocked off with nine overs to spare.

Ivybridge were never allowed to get going for long against Sandford, whose bowlers gave little away.

Ryan Glass (2-32) was the cheapest to run, although Pete Steer (2-34) and Ben Clements (2-27) were only marginally more expensive in 10 and seven-over spells respectively.

Ivybridge’s best partnership was one of 39 between openers Adam Huxtable (26) and S Northmore (5) – and there were a lot of wides in that!

Solomon, Kelvin Trent (29) and Josh Coker (26) all got in but were unable to build a big score to hang a total on.

Ivybridge only scored 41 runs in the final 10 overs, when they had five wickets in hand and Trent still batting.

Sandford’ reply was a total contrast. Openers Neil Bettis (49) and Chris Jelley (46) put on 102 for the first wicket.

Jelley, who started the season with Plympton, rejoined Sandford last week after moving to East Devon to live.

There was some encouragement for Ivbridge during the period when Sandford lost four wickets for 23 runs – Pete Abraham picking up a couple of them.

Charlie Fitzroy (44no) and Matt Theedom (31no) wiped off the rest of the target during an unbroken partnership of 71.

Theedom, the former Devon all-rounder who skippered the side in the absence of Richard Theedom, said: “It was a good toss to win as rain overnight meant the ground was wet, the ball was heavy and went slowly over a damp outfield.

“We bowled ok – too many extras for my liking – and batting wise everybody opened their account.

“Neil Bettis batted as well as I have seen since he came back to the club, Chris Jelley nicely in his debut third time round and Charles Fitzroy looked well in form.”

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