Josh Bess emerged as the match winning hero as Sidmouth became the first team this season to defeat Francis Clark Devon League Premier Division leaders Bovey Tracey beating them by three wickets in an enthralling encounter at Fortfield.

Adam Dibble and Harrison Jones both claimed three wicket hauls as Bovey Tracey were restricted to 200-9 in a contest reduced to 43 overs-per-side because of rain.

Liam Lewis bagged a brace and Scott Barlow got the other wicket, but a feature of the pre-tea session was that Sidmouth claimed catches to take all but one of the nine wickets to fall!

Skipper Will Murray and Charlie Milles held two each and the others to hold catches were Josh Bess, Anthony Griffiths, Liam Lewis and Pete Randerson.

The run chase was hit with wickets falling at regular intervals, each time just as the home side looked set to step on the accelerator.

Matt Cooke (4), Liam Lewis (31) and Anthony Griffiths (5), were all back in the Fortfield pavilion with just 41 runs on the board.

Josh Bess came in at five and it was he who began to settle the chase down and take the attack to the table topping visitors.

Luke Bess and Peter Randerson fell as wickets four and five, both departing for a score of 12.

Adam Dibble came and went for a run-a-ball 13; he did launch one big six, and, when Scott Barlow fell for a single it was 136-7 and the game looked lost to the home side.

However, with Bess still there hope sprang eternal and he was joined at the wicket by Harrison Jones.

The target was revised after a rain delay and Bess, supported superbly by Jones, timed the acceleration to perfection the winning line was crossed half way through the 40th over.

Make sure of your copy of the Sidmouth Herald out next on Friday, June 28 for the match report and post match comments of skipper Will Murray.