Sidmouth bagged victory under the Duckworth-Lewis system on matchday two of the Tolchards Devon League with success at Bradninch.

In what proved to be a high scoring contest – 465 runs were scored in one ball shy of 90 overs by the teams – Scott Barlow scored the winning run with Sidmouth seven wickets down.

Bradninch – like Sidmouth, beaten on matchday one – won the toss and home captain Gary Chappell opted to bat first. Scott Barlow struck in the fourth over, sending back Mark Ashplant without the opener troubling the scorers.

Chappell was joined by Dan Hardy and they took the score to 49 when Hardy was trapped leg before by Will Murray to the penultimate ball of the 17th over. Less than three overs later the home skipper was sent packing after a catch by Dan Powell off the bowling of Charlie Miles and Sidmouth were in charge!

However, Australian Matt Foster was joined by Tim Piper and the pair took the game to Sidmouth, and in some style. The Aussie was the aggressor, going on to record a splendid 93-ball century. When he was finally out, in the 46th over, caught by Zac Bess off the bowling of Barlow, having hit eight fours and six sixes, the home side had climbed to 219-4.

The Sidmouth bowlers did well to deny them too many over the final four overs and the innings closed on 245-5 with Piper the last man out, run out by Josh Bess for 55.

In terms of the Sidmouth bowling, Will Murray, with 1-37 from a full quota of 10 overs, was the most economical and Scott Barlow, with 2-58 was the most successful. The others on duty with the ball were: Charlie Miles (1-40 from 10), Josh Bess (0-42 from 10) and Miles Dalton (0-60 from 19).

The Sidmouth reply was launched by Matt Cooke and Josh Bess with Cooke first to fall, out to the first ball of the sixth over for 14 with the score then 27-1. Luke Bess joined Josh Bess, but only for half-a-dozen overs before he fell to a catch for five with the score 33-2. Zack Bess joined Josh Bess and the Sidmouth ship began to steady. The two Bess’s put on exactly 100 before Josh was returned to the pavilion having scored a nine boundary 72-ball 62. Dan Powell was next man in – and out – falling to a catch behind for five. This left the run chase on 139-4 after 25.5 overs.

With rain clouds looking on their way to the Mid Devon ground, Nick Gingell joined Zac Bess and the next five overs went at seven-runs-per-over before Gingell fell to a catch for 23 with the score 176-5.

Sidmouth, had plenty of overs – 18 – but the rain was approaching and they were five wickets down with still 70 runs required. However, one of the not out batsmen was Zack Bess and his innings was to prove pivotal.

After a short break for rain further wickets fell, but Scott Barlow, batting at nine, joined Zack Bess, and the pair saw the side to victory with Barlow scoring the winning runs off the fifth ball of the 39th over.

Bess finished unbeaten on 73 having faces 73 deliveries in two spells at the wicket that ran across 135 minutes. He slammed four sixes and hit as many fours and, winning run scorer Barlow was not out 15 from just nine balls faced, hitting three fours.

So, Sidmouth are up and running with their first win of the campaign and on matchday three they are back in Fortfield action with a game against early season table-toppers Bovey Tracey.