Sandford set Plymouth challenge to move on from first-day defeat

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

- by CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

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.