Sandford start climbing table thanks to win over Sidmouth | 'A crucial bowling partnership from the spinners in the middle restricted Sidmouth to a chaseable score' – Adam Small

SANDFORD ground out a three-wicket win over bottom side Sidmouth to put some distance between themselves and the Premier Division relegation places.

What was a six-point gap between the Creedy Park outfit and second-bottom Tavistock has now widened to 17.And Sandford can stretch the safety net even further with a win over Tavistock when they pay a visit this Saturday.

Sidmouth, the side propping up the Premier table, made 223 for six in 50 overs. George Sims (31) and Dan Powell (50) gave them a 72-run start that was topped-up by Charlie Gaywood (24).

There was a brief lull in run-making during the time it took Sidmouth to slide from 119 for two to 128 for six, largely the doing of Tambir Hayder (3-29).

Skipper Taylor Ingham-Hill, he made a run-a-ball 64 not out, and veteran Will Murray (28no) put on 95 unbroken in the final 15 overs.

Sandford had work to do after labouring to 54 for four in reply with Matt Fourie (4-36) taking three of the wickets.

A match-turning stand of 97 between Harry Southgate (74) and former Sidmouth batter Harrison Jones (55) put Sandford back on course.

By the time Southgate was seventh out on 196, the finishing post was in sight. Archie Osborne’s 23 not out took Sandford into the winner’s enclosure.

Adam Small, the Sandford captain, said: "A crucial bowling partnership from the spinners in the middle restricted Sidmouth to a chaseable score. 

“The Sidmouth seamers bowled tidily on the pitch which was had some life in it, however, Southgate’s and Jones’s knocks were superb and were game defining and chuffed to get over the line.”