RICHARD Foan hit a match-winning 76 for Sandford in his first appearance for the club in four years.
Foan, who has been living and working in Western Australia since 2012, is home on leave for a month.
Sandford had a space for Foan in the side and the former Devon opener was quickly back in the grove.
Chasing Budleigh’s total of 188 for eight, Foan took Sandford to 126 for two and before he was dismissed by Matt Junk (4-21).
Foan had been involved in stands of 64 with Russ Discombe and 38 with Matt Hopkins to get Sandford that far.
It wasn’t quite plain sailing from them on for Sandford as the got in a tizzy against Budleigh’s four-man spin attack of Waller, Procter, Craze and Junk.
Youngster Freddie Filor (13no) and former captain Jamie Palmer (11no) stayed calm and collected to wipe out the last 16 needed to win.
It was the first time Sandford had won two weeks running this season and Foan had plenty to do with it, but not everything.
“It was brilliant to have Richard around again,” said skipper Ryan Glass.
“He showed how good a player he is on a wicket which was difficult to bat on and against four good spinners.
“We had a collapse in the middle but Jamie Palmer and Freddie Filor held their nerve to get us over the line.”
Budleigh had recovered from nine for three to make 188, thanks largely to Elliot Rice (48), Ed Doble (17), Sam Richardson (22) and 17-year-old keeper-batter Ben Phillips (45).
Doble and Rice put on 63 for the fourth wicket, Richardson and Rice 45 for the fifth the Phillips took runs were he could with the lower order.
Foan had two for 37 with his left-arm spin and Palmer took two for 19.
Losing captain Joel Murphy took comfort from the things his side did well, which were few and far between.
“I said before the game we have only been playing at 80 per cent most of the time – and that is more than we did against Sandford,” said Murphy.
“It was a poor batting performance by us, although Elliot Rice and Ben Phillips did well to dig us out of a hole.
“Ben showed what a good player he is with a fine innings in difficult conditions.”
Although Murphy was unimpressed by most of the batting, he was happier with the fielding element of the game.
“Considering Sandford were 126 for one, we did well to take them to the 49th over and take eight wickets,” said Murphy.
Sandford are at home to Chudleigh this Saturday.
