Sidbury Cricket Club secured promotion from F Division East of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League with a superb final day victory over Whimple 2nds. 

After losing Mark Bishop to a fine catch, Ed Chester and Stephen Howe took Sidbury to 66/1. Howe, Alex Paget and Dave O’Connor then fell in quick succession 

Olly Paget stayed with Chester for a while, but the Whimple change bowlers were accurate and the expected splurge of runs did not happen. Only six runs were possible from the last three overs and Sidbury ended on 139 for 6 (and three batting points) with Ed Chester scoring a most valuable 80 not out, including 14 fours. Tea was delicious, but a quiet affair - would 130 something be enough? 

Sidbury opened the bowling with the double-page(t) spread partnership of Alex and Olly. The Whimple openers were keen to get every run possible and Alex's first over went for 14 runs (including 8 extras).  

The score inched up to 21 and then Olly Paget got the breakthrough - inducing the opener to lollipop a catch out to Alex at mid-wicket. And it was a defining breakthrough as two more wickets fell at the same score.  

Alex was too fast for the Whimple skipper, and Olly took a caught and bowled. 10 runs later Alex clean-bowled another batsman. In the next over Olly induced a top edge with the ball due to land short of square leg. But the square-leg fielder was Ed Chester - who was able to make up the ground, dive forward, catch the ball, roll over and be submerged as the whole team leaped upon him to add their congratulations.  

That was 36 for 6 - surely it was Sidbury's game now. The Sidbury faithful had started to arrive, and were providing great support from the boundary. 

A drops of rain threatened an abandonment that would have killed the Sidbury dream but they soldiered on. Olly Paget took a smart slip catch and Whimple were on 61/8. 

The tail resisted stubbornly before one played on to Simon Rowe and the fifth, crucial bowling point was gained when Damien Armes eventually found the edge - the catch taken by a gleeful Ben Pollard.  

Sidbury won by 50 runs and promoted by a single point.