SANDFORD moved-on from their opening-day defeat by Exeter with a hefty 86-run win away to newly promoted Plymouth.

Sandford’s total of 313 for six was always going to be a challenge for Plymouth, although at 154 for three in reply with 20 overs to go it was game on.

Losing four wickets for 14 runs killed the chase stone dead and the city side were all-out for 227.

Plymouth’s Mekyle Pillay (3-35) kept the lid on Sandford for most of the first 20 overs – he was their only bowler to bowl a maiden over in the innings – but after that bat dominated ball.

Lawrence Walker thumped the Plymouth bowling around for 105 – seven fours, four sixes – in a stand worth 149 for the fifth wicket with Harrison Jones.

Jones (91) and James Theedom, with a handy 36 not out, kept the runs coming all the way to the 50th over.

Plymouth’s response was solid rather than spectacular at first with Harry Witcher (24), Henry Ramsden (35) and Pillay (27) making runs.

Teddy Haffenden, in at 65 for two was playing the anchorman role, which seemed to be working well at 154 for three.

Three wickets for Aryan Lakra (5-26) and a fourth for Sandford captain Jackson Thompson signalled Plymouth’s demise.

Last pair Ethan Guest skipper Sam Stein put on 31 to detain Sandford in the field a little longer and take Plymouth to a fourth batting bonus point.

Thompson said Sandford’s total was ‘imposing’ on a ‘very difficult wicket’ which: “Made Lawrence's and Harrison's efforts all the more impressive.”

Thompson added: “Lawrence and Harrison were full of class in a great partnership.”

Thompson said Lakra’s five-wicket haul was the ‘standout’ performance, but said Kei Lalor deserved a hearty pat on the back.

“Kei Lalor was excellent with his bag of tricks and bowled beautifully,” said Thompson.

Stein, the Plymouth captain, knows if Plymouth are going to make it third time lucky in the derby clash at Cornwood this Saturday there is work to do on training nights.

“We know where we need to improve and want to get those things right for next week,” said Stein.

“We bowled very well up-front then started bowling two bad balls an over, which did not help our cause, although we pulled it back slightly towards the back end. 

“Up to half way we built good partnerships, then lost wickets in clumps in the back end trying to chase a high score.”