Sidmouth bounced back from back-to-back losses to become the first side to defeat Francis Clark Devon League Premier Division leaders Bovey Tracey, beating them by three wickets at Fortfield.

With the weather a big topic of conversation both the day before the game and on match day, the captains and umpires discussed the situation and all agreed to commence a 43-overs per side contest at 1.15pm.

After being put in the visitors made a steady start. Adam Dibble made the early break through. Harrison Jones then claimed a wicket in the 26th over and two more in the 28th to leave Bovey on 110-4. It was soon 134-5 with Scott Barlow the wicket taker, aided by one of two catches pouched by Sidmouth skipper Will Murray.

Liam Lewis then found the edge of Neil Hancock’s bat and Charlie Miles took the catch to leave the visitors on 164-6 from which they limped to a closing total of 200-9 in their 43 overs. Dibble and Jones returned matching figures of 3-44.

The Sidmouth reply was hit by the loss of early wickets. Both openers, matt Cooke and Liam Lewis were joined back in the Fortfield pavilion by Anthony Griffiths and Luke Bess with 69 on the score board.

Pete Randerson was next to come and go and his departure left the run chase half way to success with half the side out!

Dibble and Barlow were the next two home batsmen to depart and, with seven down the board showed a total of 136.

At this stage Josh Bess , who has runs this season for Devon, but not yet put too many in the bank for his club side, was looking very comfortable at one end and he was joined at the wicket by Harrison Jones.

Then the rains arrived to force the players off and a revised run rate was set. When the players got back out into the middle the new target was 23 runs from 13 balls. Bee then took Devon’s Ryan Bougard for 15 off his next over, the pick of many classic shots a majestic six over wide mid-off.

With seven needed off the last over, Neil Hancock bowling and Jones on strike it was still very evenly balanced. The first ball produced a swing and a miss, but the next delivery saw Jones nail the ball over midwicket for six and then the single required thereafter from four deliveries was a mere formality.