SANDFORD remain hard on the heels of leaders Hatherleigh at the top of the A Division table following a three-wicket win at Chudleigh.
Will Heather rescued Chudleigh from a wobbly 89 for five by hitting 40 towards an eventual total of 174 for eight.
Sandford shot off in response to 96 for one, then lost top scorer Richard Foan for 59 and Charlie Fitzroy without addition in the next over.
Chudleigh’s bowlers got on top mid-innings with the Heather brothers, Rob Clarke, Mark Russell and Grant Stone all operating at less than three an over.
Ramesh Lakmal’s 23 not out got Sandford home after they had been a nervy 144 for seven.
Relieved skipper Foan said: “We are definitely doing it the hard way, but showing great character as a side in getting over the line.
“Ryan Glass and Ben Clement bowled very well to restrict them to 170 and to chase that at Chudleigh is a great effort.”
Glass (3-35) and Clement (1-29 off 10) kept the lid on Chudleigh’s middle order after Jamoe Palmer (2-39) and Pete Steer got early wickets.
Chudleigh’s top four got in and got set then got out with no one making more than Mark Solway (19).
Will Heather shared stands of 28 with Rob Clarke and 42 with Russell (22) that upped the tempo slightly in the last 15 overs.
Sandford got off to a solid start through Foan and Neil Bettis (18), helped by two overs from Callum Heath costing 28 runs.
Then the brake went on and runs had to be chiselled out. Lakmal’s 23 came off 67 balls and took 73 minutes to score – that’s hard going.
Chudleigh skipper Foreman was happy his side pushed a top team as close as they did.
“We posted a total that would have been enough for others but not against a quality batting outfit,” said Foreman.
“Twenty or thirty more would have made it very interesting.
We didn't start well with the ball but dragged ourselves back into a great position.
Lakmal, Sandford’s overseas player, batted very well to see them home.
“A few lessons to be learned, but lots of positives to take.”
