Gribble (pictured) and Linnitt make outcome inevitable | Leaders put a stop to Sandford's winning run

Oli Gribble, who got Bovey away to a racing start

SANDFORD’s winning streak in the Premier Division ground to a halt when they went down by seven wickets to table-topping Exeter.

Three wins on the spin had hoisted Sandford away from the wrong end of the table after patchy start to the season.

Thanks to that run the Creedy Park outfit are still fifth in the standings with 36 points between them and second-bottom Plymouth.

Joe Hopkins – top scored for Sandford Exeter remain top of the shop with a nine-point advantage over chasers Exmouth.

Opener Joe Hopkins top scored with 52 for Sandford in their all-out total of 164. He was fifth out on 112 having put on 52 with skipper Adam Small (18) and 40 with James Theedom (17).

Exeter spinner Sam Read twirled out three for 22 and there were two wickets each for Josh Nott, Zach Vukusic and Seb Linnitt.

Inevitable

Exeter opener Oli Gribble’s positive approach to batting took him to 75 not out in a 32-over dash for victory. A stand of 68 for the second wicket with Linnitt (33) rendered the outcome inevitable.

Cameron Fraser was 20 not out at the other end when Gribble hit Ben Handley for four to win it.

Small said winning the toss in the blistering heat was a ‘positive’ outcome, but not the only one.

“Seeing young Joe Hopkins scoring his maiden Premier Division 50 was definitely another,” said Small.

“Only scoring 164 was unlikely to be enough against an impressive Exeter batting line up, and so it proved.”

Coming next for Sandford is a home game against Cornwood and another crack at their overseas player Mohsin Khan, who bludgeoned a double hundred against them the last time the teams met.

“Availability should be much improved, which will be a relief for all four Sandford teams,” said Small.