Josh Bess struck a sublime century as Sidmouth won handsomely on their visit to Hatherleigh on match day four of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League season.

After losing the toss and being invited to bat Josh Bess was joined by Liam Lewis – making his first appearance of the season in the league XI – and they took the score to 98 before Lewis fell to a catch for 39

Skipper Luke Bess was next in and he and the surviving opener took the score to 144 before the skipper fell for a 36-ball knock of 30. Aviwe Mgijima was next in – and out – he fell for a 12-ball cameo of 17 to leave Sidmouth 173-3. Matt Cooke (8), Dec Lines (8), Nick Gingell (11) and Henry Gater (7) were all lost as Josh Bess continued to be unmoved at the opposite end of the wicket.

When Bess was finally out, the eighth wicket to fall with the total on 262, he had faced 126 balls, hitting a dozen fours and slamming six sixes in a high-quality innings of 126.

Just one more wicket fell – that of Will Murray for four to leave Tom Wainwright, 11, and Charlie Miles, 0, as the not out batsmen with the Sidmouth closing total being 276-9 at the end of their 50 overs.

Refreshed during tea, centurion Bess then removed one of the Hatherleigh openers and Charlie Miles span out the other before two wickets in quick succession from Will Murray left the home run chase wobbling on 48-4. A second for Miles left half the Hatherleigh side back in the pavilion with only 64 on the board and the lower order could only match those 60 odd runs as the reply eventually closed on 123 all out from 37.2 overs.

All five of the Sidmouth bowlers returned figures with at least one wicket. Aviwe Mgijima sent down 5.2 overs for his return of 3-12 while there were full 10 over shifts from both Will Murray (2-29) and Charlie Miles (2-41) and Josh Bess completed a fine all-round contribution as he ended with 2-26 from eight overs.