Sandford back on top after scraping one-wicket win over Plympton | 'Plympton were a better side on the day, but we can't take the credit away from the fact that we still managed to win from where we found ourselves in the chase' – Jackson Thompson

TITLE-chasing Sandford were given a scare by relegation favourites Plympton before securing a one-wicket win that took the back to the top of the Premier Division table.

The signs were not great for table-proppers Plympton after they were dismissed for 129 in the 28th of their 50 overs.

Sandford slumped from 47 for nine to 60 for four on the chase, then fell apart as 91 for four became 111 for nine.

Last pair Joe Hopkins and Matt Jeacock nursed Sandford over the line with seven balls left in the match.

It was a notable victory for Sandford as it took them back to the top of the division they won last season. Bradninch & Kentisbeare, who were out in front, dropped down to second after losing to Heathcoat.

From Plympton’s perspective their survival hopes are practical nil now. They are 43 points away from safety at the wrong end of the table with 100 left to play for. Relegation could be just two more defeats away…

Alex Carr and extras were the joint top scorers for Plympton with 29. Elliot Hamiton (14), Craig Miles (19) and Oliver Goulder (15) all got in without going on.

The greatest stand of the Plympton innings was just 25, which was between Carr and Callum Williams, which tells its own story.

Jeacock (3-26) took the first three Pympton wickets to fall, Harrison Jones (3-35) had two in the middle and Aryan Lakra (3-14) applied the finishing touches.

Openers Adam Small (25) and former Cornwood batter Ciaran Gray (16) got Sandford up and running, but a middle-order slump engineered by Hamilton (4-31) and Craig Donohue (2-16) slowed Sandford’s progress.

James Theedom (21) took the running total to 91 for five, only for the jitters to set in again as Goulder (2-20) and James Carr (1-19) picked up wickets.

Hopkins (14no) and Jeacock (9no) had time on their side and flat-batted their way to victory through a 11-over endurance test that featured just 14 scoring shots and no boundaries at all.

Hamilton, the Plympton captain, could only ask himself what might have been?

“Another 15 or 20 runs with the bat and it could've been a different game,” said Hamilton.

“Plympton boys performed well in all aspects, especially with the ball and in the field. 

“It was a good game playing in good spirits by both teams.”

Jackson Thompson, the Sandford captain, said the result demonstrated his side’s will to win.

“Plympton were a better side on the day, but we can't take the credit away from the fact that we still managed to win from where we found ourselves in the chase,” said Thompon.

"To be honest we were well below our best. We bowled poorly on a very helpful pitch. They got 40 too many and there were far too many extras again. 

"When we batted, that start was great on a slow deck, but to collapse the way we did was clearly not the plan or an attempt to be clinical. 

"Important runs from James Theedom in the middle, and a gritty innings from young Joe Hopkins, who held it together at one end, alongside Matt Jeacock got us over the line.”