Devon Cricket Board - Sandford hit bottom after Sidmouth defeat

Sandford hit bottom after Sidmouth defeat

SANDFORD were put to the sword by leaders Sidmouth in a one-sided affair at Creedy Park.

Josh Bess made 61 – 10 fours and a six included – and Anthony Griffiths with 48 were the two main scores in Sidmouth’s impressive tally of 267 for eight.

Sandford were all out for 83 in reply with Russ Discombe (15) and Ryan Glass (25) and Steve Morish (12) the only batsmen to reach double figures.

Bess (2-14), Charlie Miles (3-21) and Dan Babula (5-28) bowled Sandford out in just 27.3 overs.

Cornwood’s win over Exmouth means they are off the bottom of the table and Sandford are there instead.

With five games to go, staring with North Devon away this Saturday, Sandford are 19 points adrift at the foot of the table and looking increasingly likely to return to the A Division after a year away.

Skipper Jamie Palmer refuses to accept that relegation is inevitable

“Of course we still have a chance of staying up,” said Palmer.

“We're still only one win behind Torquay, whom we play in a fortnight, and I feel if we play to our potential our last four games are all winnable.”

A stand of 80- between Harvey Sargent (25) and Bess got Sidmouth up and running then Will Sobczak (31) and Griffiths took the score up to 164 for three with a partnership worth 56.

Pete Randerson (2) missed out against one of his former clubs, but Griffiths kept going until, he was sixth out on 212 with four over to go.

There was no let up in the latter stages for Sandford as a combination of Greg Chaplin (37 off 22 balls), Scott Barlow (14) and Will Murray (15no) added 55 after Griffiths went.

Sandford were struggling at 52 for four when Glass was lbw to Babula, then in the next four overs collapsed in a heap to 80 for nine.

Last pair Nigel Ashplant and Palmer delayed the inevitable for two and a half overs.

On paper it looks bad, but Palmer said there were reasons to be positive.

“Obviously disappointed by the margin of defeat, but we can take positives from the game,” said Palmer.

“I think the discipline we showed with the ball and in the field for the majority of their innings was very good.

“Unfortunately you have no room for any errors against a side as ruthless and well drilled as Sidmouth.”

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