Devon Cricket Board - Prince nails first league ton for Sandford

Prince nails first league ton for Sandford

PRINCE Masvuare nailed his first league ton of the season for Sandford in the 95-run win over lowly Bideford at Creedy Park.
The Mid-West Rhinos all-rounder from Zimbabwe didn’t put a foot wrong on his way to 105 as Sandford clocked up 337 for nine.
Masvuare went in with the score on 53 when opener Ryan Glass had to retire hurt after being hit on the head by a wayward return from a Bideford fielder.
Masvuare belted 14 fours and three sixes during a 102-ball stay before Tom Brend had him caught.
Along the way there was a stand of 161 with Richard Tucker, who entered into the spirit of the occasion with 68 off 47 balls with eight fours and three sixes.
Masvuare and Tucker went four runs apart and at 246 for three Glass came back on 34 not out to resume his innings.
In just eight overs Glass took his personally tally to 97 off 70 balls with 10 fours and five sixes.
Wickets fell in the dash for runs at the end with Brend picking up two more for figures of three for 50. Skipper James Ford had five for 97.
There were plenty of runs left in the track as Bideford opener Josh Roach ably demonstrated by scoring 101 off 97 balls. He hit 11 fours and a six.
Ford offered support with 44 off 55, but the rest of the middle order caved in under pressure from Tom Williams (3-49) and Steve Morish (4-52).
Alex Hannam helped earn Bideford a couple of bonus batting points at the end by taking the score from 180 for seven to 242 all out with an unbeaten 39.
Jamie Palmer, the Sandford captain said there were plenty of plus points but something to work on as well.
“I heave been hoping to see a batting performance like this for a few weeks now,” said Palmer.
Prince, Ryan Glass and Richard Tucker all batted with great positivity and intent and posting 337 was a good effort.
“The pitch was very flat and outfield quick so we still needed discipline with the ball and we did that to good effect.
“I was pleased Steve Morish and Tom Williams both got wickets as they've been bowling well recently.
“The only criticism I would have would be we drifted quite badly for the final 10 overs and lost our intensity.
“We should have probably bowled them out for 50 less and that's something we'll work on.”
Sandford are away to Tavistock this Saturday.
Where to Bideford go from here? They carry on playing and keep trying to improve.
“Dropped catches are costing us dearly at the moment,” said Bideford skipper Ford.
“There were no easy ones, but if you give a good batsman a chance when you are playing on the best wicket we have played on all season you are going to be chasing a big score.
It was great to see Josh get a score – it was only a matter of time.
It was a good, competitive game against a team that play hard without going over the top.
“When we combine good bating and bowling with a fielding performance in the same game we will start to get results.
It is tough but we are sticking together and enjoying our cricket.

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