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SANDFORD rediscovered their winning touch after back-to-back defeats by Cornwood and Bradninch & Kentisbeare scuppered their title hopes when they defeated Exeter by 41 runs on the County Ground.
Lawrence Walker (51) and Aryan Lakra (26) were Sandford’s primary run scorer in a 34-over total of 164 all out. No one else got past 11.
Josh Nott (2-19) took wickets at the top of the order for Exeter, Alex Jarman (2-35) had a couple in the middle, which left Fin Hill (4-25) to deal with most of the rest.
Exeter got to 53 for two without too many issues – Hill (24) on top of the bowling – but declined from 77 for four to 98 for eight once Sam Read (20) was moved on.
Zach Vukusic (34) was the last man standing after Lakra (4-29) and Byron Knowles (3-30) had worked down the order.
Jackson Thompson, said just getting the game on was an achievement after overnight bad weather swept across Devon.
“The umpires and the ground staff did a good job,” said Thompson.
Thompson said Walker showed ‘class’ when he batted with his approach to the task.
“His tempo of the innings was perfect on a bouncy and tricky pitch,” said Thompson.
“We were on for 220-ish but the usual cluster of wickets meant we were short again.”
Although Lakra and Knowles were the headline bowlers, Thompson had praise for the luckless Matt Jeacock.
"Byron got some important wickets and bowled well on a bouncy pitch,” said Thompson. “Aryan again bowled beautifully and turned it sharply.
"Matt Jeacock started off brilliantly. I have never seen so many top edges and edges off a bowler this season than that off Matt. He's bowled really well without much luck.”
Sandford’s season concludes this Saturday at home to Heathcoat.
