Setback at Ottermouth

AFTER two weeks away from the Fort Field, Sidmouth will be hoping their home ground is the launch pad for another two-year unbeaten run in the Francis Clark Devon Cricket League after the last one ended at Budleigh Salterton last weekend.

Despite the setback at the Ottermouth, Sidmouth remain top of the premier division with other results favouring them. Tomorrow they face Plympton, hoping to correct some of the batting failings that afflicted their travels.

But they are likely to be without Neil Hancock’s bowling after he pulled up with a groin strain as Sidmouth sought to restrict Salterton’s total. It didn’t stop him being the visitors’ only batting success of the afternoon, making 75 in Sidmouth’s reply of 127 all out to the home side’s 198-9.

Salterton’s Pakistani import Hammad Azam made an impact on debut with a top score of 61 and 5-36.

Azam had some back-up scores of 35 from Bob Dawson, 37 from Joel Murphy and 16 from Lewis Murrin, which enabled Salterton to put together a competitive total.

None of Sidmouth’s bowlers suffered greatly, although Will Murray unusually went for more than four an over, taking 2-55. Pressed into action due to Hancock’s injury, Nick Gingell took 2-27 and there were braces of wickets for Adam Dibble, Josh Bess. Hancock had two wickets to his name before he pulled up.

In reply, Sidmouth never established any sort of foothold – 8-2 became 32-5 with Hilton Cartwright and Nick Gingell both registering ducks, the latter to a run out when Sam Richardson, doing the running for Hancock, rejected a call for a single.

Simon Sobczak just reached double figures in a mini revival that took the score to 64 and, from 80-7, Matt Cooke showed great application, helping Hancock get the score to 122.

The demise of Hancock at this point signalled the end, Bob Dawson taking two wickets in an over to finish with 2-5. Salterton’s seam attack looked formidable on the day, Ian Bishop taking 2-40 and Murphy, although wicketless, sending down a tidy 13 overs.

While two weeks of sketchy batting performances provide one area for Sidmouth to work on, the lack of Hancock exposes a threadbare seam attack if Josh Bess’s injury problems return and Adam Dibble is unavailable due to Somerset commitments.