Sidmouth 1st XI sit one point behind Tolchards Devon Cricket League Premier Division leaders Heathcoat after 10 of the 18 match days have been played, wtrit4ee Stephen Birley.

The Fortfield men chalked up n eighth victory in 10 outings with a 143-run win at the Creedy Park home of basement side Sandford.

Sidmouth skipper Luke Bess loss the toss and was invited to bat first by his opposite number and Sidmouth lost their first wicket with only 20 on the board when Dec Lines fell to a catch with just six to his name. The skipper was in at number three, and soon the second wicket as he was also caught, in his case for three and, when Josh Bess was caught and bowled having scored 42, Sidmouth were 81-3. However, any hopes the home side might have harboured at that stage, of pulling off a surprise, were soon gone as Zach Bess proceeded to take charge!

Bess and Aviwe Mgijima put on 125th for the fourth wicket before the South African fell for a 46-ball, eight boundary 55 and, after Eliot Rice was caught and bowled for one, Henry Gater joined Bess and the pair saw Sidmouth to a closing total of 331-5, adding 122 for the unbroken sixth wicket.

Bess was unbeaten on 142 at the close having faced 109 balls, hitting a dozen fours and seven sixes whilst Gater was not out 57 from 50 deliveries, hitting eight fours and one six.

Sandford had no answer to the Sidmouth spin during the second half of the contest as they were bowled out fro 188 in 45.3 overs.

Charlie Miles topped the returns with a splendid 3-26 from 8.3 overs and teenager Max Hancock also claimed three wickets with his figures being 2-36. The other successful bowlers were Aviwe Mgijima (2-36), Dec Lines (1-7) and Will Murray (1-10).

This Saturday (July 14), Sidmouth are in Fortfield action when they entertain a Plymouth side that they defeated by three wickets when the teams met at Mount Wise on match day two of the new season. Leaders Heathcoat are at third bottom Hatherleigh.