Devon Cricket Board - A Division: One point in it as Sandford go second

A Division: One point in it as Sandford go second

A DIVISION

SANDFORD cashed in on Cornwood’s decision to send a weakened team to Creedy Park with a win that lifts them into second place by a point with a game to go.

Ben Warren made 46 and Ryan Rickard 31 in Cornwood’s modest total of 138 for eight.

Pick of the home bowlers with four for 36 was Darryl Mortimer, who took three of them in one over.

Sandford didn’t hang around knocking off the runs. Mortimer made 42 not out, Adrian Small was unbeaten on 33 and Matt Theedom made 32 in a seven-wicket win. Mike Wood claimed two of the three wickets to fall.

Victory inched Sandford ahead of Exeter, who dropped points beating Shobrooke Park by five wickets.

“It all comes down to one game – us at Brixham and Exeter against Barton – and may the best team win,” said Sandford skipper Theedom.

The object of the exercise for Cornwood was to strengthen the 2^nd XI to ensure they stayed clear of the relegation danger zone. A win over North Devon was their reward.

Exeter lost wickets on the chase against Shobrooke at the County Ground, which is why Sandford went past them.

Shobrooke were held to 113 for nine, which Exeter polished off for five wickets lost with 11 overs to go.

Exeter skipper Jon Tipper said he hoped the result would not come back to haunt his team.

“In normal circumstances 17 points would be great, but we knew we had to get 20 reallt,” said Tipper.

“It certainly makes for one of the best finishes to a season I have been involved in for quite some time.”

Callum Still spun his way to a season’s best of seven for 31, and Tipper picked up two for 16, as Shobrooke struggled from the start.

Shobrooke were 36 for six and 59 for eight and only got to 133 thanks to Neil Branton (16no) and Ben Trenaman (25no).

Justin Dollow got Exeter opener Miles Lenygon out with the first ball after tea.

Cameron Grainger’s half century and 24 not out by Alex Bosomoworth got Exeter over the line.

While Exeter contemplate promotion, Shobrooke battle on to dodge relegation.

Saturday’s round of fixtures didn’t do them too much harm as fellow strugglers Alphington were washed out against Brixham without bowling a ball and Barton lost at Torqauy.

With a game to go it’s Alphington on 126 point, Shobrooke 122 and Barton 113. the final round of matches is Alphington at Braunton (4^th), Shobrooke against Abbotskerswell (6^th) and Barton against Exeter (3^rd).

Champions Torquay pushed Barton to the brink of relegation when they beat the old enemy by three wickets on the Recreation Ground.

If Torquay had been hoping to hand out a hiding to Barton – and the pre-match sabre rattling suggested they were – then on that score they were disappointed.

Barton, all out for 145, battled to the bitter end and at 133 for seven the game could have gone either way. Matt Hickey (23), Matt Thompson (24) and Justin Yau (21) had all been in and out by then.

Tim Western and Jon Rice got Torquay over the finishing line, despite the best efforts of Tom Porter (2-25), Damon Calland (2-35) and Adam Parker (2-48) to stop them.

Barton will need some of the same fighting qualities if they are going to beat Exeter this Saturday, which is the only way they are going to dodge relegation.

And even then Barton need Alphington and Shobrooke Park to slip up against Braunton and Abbotskeswell respectively.

When Barton batted hey were indebted to Andy McVeigh for making an unbeaten 42 while wickets were tumbling at the other end. McVeigh and Adam Last (16) put on 49 for the sixth wicket.

Joe Thompson (4-28) and Rice (3-54) were the leading wicket takers. Ben Passenger took two for 17 before going lame and hobbling out of the bowing attack.

Abbotskerswell failed to reach any great heights as they slumped to a 100-run defeat against visiting Braunton.

Jaz Kalsi top scored with 80 –he and Harry Booker (29) put on 54 for the fifth wicket – and that was it from Braunton in a modest total of 148 for eight.

There were two wickets each for Marcus Green, Chris Kelmere and Rob Shergold.

Abbots were all out for 42 in reply – Green’s 13 as good as it got

Five Abbots players failed to make a run between them –and from 19 for eight they were lucky to make 42!

Stewart Rhodes (4-6) and Jon Baglow (4-13) were the bowlers who did the damage.

Brixham’s game against Alphington was called off without a ball being bowled.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773