Josh Bess marked the halfway point of the Tolchards Devon League Premier Division campaign with arguably his most influential performance of the season.
Bess was irresistible first with the ball as he claimed a six wicket haul and then with the bat – thumping a 117-ball unbeaten 105 to see Sidmouth to an eight wicket win.
After winning the toss, Sidmouth opted to field first and the move paid dividends as only three players scored more than four in the Plymouth batting ranks! Indeed, but for the contribution of Faizan Riaz, who scored 123, Hal Kerton (54) and opener James Toms (11), the sum total of runs from the bats of the other eight players was nine!
Bess finished with figures of 6-25 in a full stint of 10 overs. His victims were one leg before, one clean bowled and the other four were catches held by Dec Lines, Dan Powell, Luke Bess and Will Murray. Murray claimed two of the other wickets to fall and Scott Barlow got one as Plymouth closed on 202-9 after their 50 overs at the wicket.
The Sidmouth run chase saw the early loss of Matt Cooke, caught by centurion Riaz off the bowling of David Burke for a single, but there was to be only one further success for the visiting bowlers – that the wicket of Luke Bess for a five boundary innings of 34.
The run chase was dominated by Josh Bess who hit 14 fours and two sixes on his was to his unbeaten 105. At the other end of the wicket was brother Zach Bess who trooped off at stumps with an unbeaten49 to his name – the pair taking the reply from 73-2 over the winning line at 203, adding 130 for the unbroken third wicket.
Sidmouth are now up to fourth in the table and sit `14 points behind third placed Bradninch and, with leaders Bovey Tracey beaten for the second time this season when they went down at second in the table Exmouth, the Fortfield men are now just 31 points behind the leaders with the second half of the league campaign being launched next Saturday (July 8).
On Saturday, Sidmouth travel to Paignton looking to avenge an opening day heavy defeat at home to the South Devon side.
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