Sidbury hosted Ottery for their final game of the season in a 30-over Sunday contest at the Millfield ground, writes Simon Rowe.

Ottery won the toss and opted to bat first. The wicket was both green and damp, as must be expected at this stage of the year. The wicket was also suffering from a long season’s wear and tear and so offered plenty to the bowlers.

Ottery made a cautious start to the game thanks to some tight bowling from Martin Millmow and Steve Crick. A couple of wickets fell to reinforce the view that this would not be a high scoring game.

James Pearce and Martin Miller joined the bowling attack and continued to keep things tight grabbing the odd wicket and the bowling was backed up with some committed fielding, and, at times, great catching with Steve Cricket holding a superb catch in the deep.

Sidbury debutants John Miller and Matt Brewster came on for the final few overs continuing to keep things tight and restricting the visitors to a total of 130.

Sidbury have chased much bigger totals this season were quietly confident at tea, but could not have predicted what would have happened in the opening 10 overs of the reply!

The home side lost eight wickets for just 35 runs, this due to a combination of good bowling, ambitious shots and one or two demons in the pitch!

At this point Sidbury were left thinking this could result in the lowest total for the year and a disappointing end to what has been a very successful season for the village team, but it was not yet over.

Some lusty blows from James Pearce and an absolutely superb knock from Matt Brewster (84), the latter taking the fight to the Otters in great style.

When Pearce was dismissed, Brewster was joined Martim Millmow at the crease, the pair put on a record last wicket stand and over by over brought the run rate down and the winning line ever closer!

With just a couple of overs left and only 11 runs required Brewster was caught on the boundary bringing to an end an enthralling game of cricket.

The Sidbury village team who a year ago were struggling to get fixtures and to raise a side, have had a great season, playing local village sides and touring teams.

The majority of the players come from within the village or close by and the club has also been able to introduced a number of young players to men’s cricket in 2013.

Special thanks goes to Lou Rowe for organizing teas not only for this game, but many others throughout the season, some wider thanks to Marcus Bennett for organizing the fixtures and preparing the wicket, Adam Chinery and Andy Webb for all of their efforts behind the scenes, Dave Higgs for fundraising and developing the youth cricket on Sunday mornings, Allan Licalsi for umpiring all year, as well as all others who have contributed this season including the families and wider village for supporting the club throughout the season – see you all next summer.