Sidmouth III were duly crowned Tolchards Devon League F Division East champions after an 18-run win over Bradninch 2nds at Newton Poppleford.
Fittingly it was Sidmouth CC chairman Fionn Wardrop who held a catch at mid-on to give Saj Patidar a wicket that sealed the title – Bradninch needed to chase down the Sidmouth total of 218-7 losing only five wickets to deny Sidmouth the title ands so that sixth wicket ‘sealed’ things for the home side.
Batting first, Sidmouth lost opener Anthony Cox to a slip catch off the final ball of the first over. Louis Adey joined Jash Patidar and the pair took the total to 72 when Patidar was adjudged leg before for 16, to the fourth delivery of the 11 over.
Saj Patidar took over from his son, but he was run out for five to leave the home side 78-3 and the loss of Miles Dalton for one, left Sidmouth 92-4. Fionn Wardrop joined young Adey and the pair saw their side into three figures and onto 127 when Wardrop fell for 15.
Adey was in fine form and he reached his half century off just 40 balls! When he was sixth man out, with the score on 157, the youngster had scored a terrific 70.
Just two runs later a seventh wicket fell – Leigh Adey bowled for one - and the home side were still 41 runs shy of banking maximum batting points. However, evergreen duo Graham Munday (34) and Tim Drake (13) remained at the wicket through to the close of the innings which saw Sidmouth post a total of 218-7.
Bradninch got off to a 45 run start, but crucially the run rate was slow thanks to fine shifts from opening bowlers Fionn Wardrop (1-22 from eight) and Miles Dalton (1-25 from eight). They picked things up to reach 125-3 after 27 overs – needing 94 from the final 78 balls of the match. However, the introduction of Graham Munday paid dividends as he claimed wickets with his second and third delivery and, from there, Sidmouth skipper Saj Patidar moved his field around to keep a check on the run rate and, with wickets falling at regular intervals, the third team were able to bring their season to a winning conclusion as Bradninch lost their final, wicket with their score on 200.
Munday finished with figures of 4-47 from 6.4 overs and Saj Patidar’s return was 3-28 from six.
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