AFTER getting themselves in a position to register a second win in two games, Sidmouth 3rd XI ended up salvaging a draw from their match against Bradninch 2nd XI, writes John Goodwin.

With 20 overs to go Sidmouth, chasing 210, needed 110 to win with eight wickets in hand and Tom Overthrow and Mike Dibble well set.

Four overs later both batsmen were out in identical fashion, caught at slip by Gary Newall off Andy Nicholls, Overthrow for 41 and Dibble for 23.

From there the innings fell away badly as novel ways of getting out were employed.

Tim Phillips went walkabout after a ball passed to the wicketkeeper and was stumped, Henry Gater, looking to be regaining form, returned a high full toss back to the bowler after making 21 and John Goodwin edged a ball on to his head, the ball sitting up nicely for the wicketkeeper to gather.

Bruce Robson and Joe Griffiths held out for nine overs, although there was final over drama when a catch at silly cover was claimed from Griffiths, but the appeal was over-ruled, the batsman being judged to have played the ball into the ground. Sidmouth survived at 165-9

They had bowled Bradninch out with two overs to spare with Tom Chaplin pick of the bowlers with 3-37 in 12 overs. Gater took 3-42, Nick Mansfield 2-65 and Griffiths 1-18.

With the visitors at 99-4 Sidmouth looked on top, but a poor period in the field returned the initiative to Bradninch with Robert Acton taking full advantage to make 80.

A trip over the Tamar to face Plymouth 3rd XI at their ground in Torpoint, Cornwall, faces the team tomorrow.