SANDFORD are in good shape for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Hatherleigh at Creedy Park after they thrashed Brixham by 162 runs.
Brixham, relegated from the Premier Division last season, have yet to win a game this term and are in danger of going down again unless their results improve in a hurry.
Somerset’s Jim Allenby wasn’t available to Brixham – he featured against Plympton seven days earlier – and neither were former Devon players Andy Pugh or Mark Orchard.
Sandford cashed in with the bat – opener Neil Bettis stroking 109 in a hefty total of 280 for seven.
Skipper Richard Foan (83) and Bettis caned the Brixham bowling for a first-wicket stand of 199.
The total was topped up by Charles Fitzroy (31) and Shaun Hawkins (21no).
South African Jason Oakes – normally a keeper - was brought on late in the innings and picked up five wickets for 42 runs.
A rain-break brought Brixham’s to-win target down to 242 in 38 overs – not that it would have made any difference.
There were three wickets each for Jamie Palmer and Tom Williams as Brixham were bowled out for 80 with more than eight overs to go.
Adam Edwards made 25 for Brixham and Tom Hooper 10. No one else made more than eight.
Brixham lost the game in the time it took to slide from 52 for three to 58 for seven.
It was Bettis’ first league ton since rejoining Sandford and no one was more delighted than his opening partner, skipper Foan.
“Another good win and an excellent performance from Neil Bettis hopefully the first of many,” said Foan.
“Jaime Palmer turned in a great opening spell with the ball and deserved a lot more than three wickets.”
