SPINNER Josh Couch claimed a four-wicket return as Teignmouth & Shaldon inflicted a 69-run defeat on Sandford 2nd XI in C Division East.

Todd Ballman (60) and Alistair Cliffe (70) underpinned T&S’s total of 256 all out. Liam Gardner, a former Sandford player, made a quick 26 at the end.

Praison Alias (4-36) scooped the bowling plaudits for Sandford.

Sandford set off in hot pursuit with openers Ben Chaloner (41) and Jon James (26) both playing their shots. Tom Maidment (32) adopted the same policy.

Gardner (2-35) slowed things down from one end while Couch (4-25) twirled away from the other.

Wickets fell at regular intervals until Shaun Hawkins (39) reversed the trend. He was ninth out in a final total of 187.

Meanwhile, Plymouth 2nd XI sent C West newcomers Abbotskerswell tumbling to a 35-run defeat first time out at Mount Wise.

Jon Kerridge had a decent case for man-of-the-match with a top score of 84 with the bat and five wickets with the ball against last season’s B Division tailenders.

Kerridge – eight fours, three sixes – and Tom Hughes (52no) were Plymouth’s prime run getters in a total of 269 for seven.

George Toms (31) put on 73 with Kerrridge. Dad and captain James Toms arrived down the order and 37 in a rush adding 67 with Hughes.

Jay Hussain (3-43) was the lone Abbotskerswell bowler to take more than one wicket.

Hussain tendered his man-of-the-match credentials with a robust 113 off 80 balls – nine sixes and seven fours – as Abbots set off in pursuit.

Abbots had reached 199 for the when Kerridge had Hussain stumped, which proved the turning point in the match.

If Kerridge didn’t get them, Andy Birkett did as Abbots faded to 234 all out with more than six overs unused.