Sidmouth 2nds got their C Division (East) campaign off to a winning start as they secured a 50 run win at Whimple where they were taking on the home club’s 1st XI.

This was the opening game in the new all-through league and, after losing the toss and being invited to bat on a wicket that had been under water during the winter, the early loss of Isaac Thomas (6 ) and Nick Mansfield (17) left them 38-2.

New skipper Anthony Griffiths was joined by teenager Byron Knowles and they got the score board moving, adding 49 before young Knowles was caught at ‘cow corner’ for 30 (three fours and two sixes).

Daley Holmes was next man in, and out, in his case sent back with eight to his name and the score 123-4.

Cameron Evans-Grainger replaced Holmes, but, with just one more run added, he saw his skipper sent packing, but not before Griffiths had scored a five boundary 44.

The sixth wicket to fall was that of Ed Hurley for seven, but that was as bad as it got for the Fortfield men as their innings closed on 189-6 with Miles Dalton unbeaten on 22 and Evans-Grainger not out 20.

During the interval the total was thought to be a decent one given the conditions, and so it proved!

The Whimple reply suffered an early set-back with one of the openers tickling the ball down the leg side where it was superbly caught by wicket keeper Evans-Grainger to give Fionn Wardrop his first wicket of the new league term.

The Wardrop bowling and Evans-Grainger catching combination saw the early demise of batsmen two and three and the other Sidmouth opening seamer, Toby Seldon, got the wicket his work deserved when he won a leg before decision.

After the opening pair had bowled through their allotted nine overs the ball was passed on to Charlie Dibble (3-33), Byron Knowles (1-20), Ed Hurley (2-17) and Daley Holmes (0-8) as the Whimple innings ended on 139 after 41.2 overs.

Glovesman Evans-Grainger took a second stunning leg side catch, this time off the bowling of Ed Hurley and skipper Griffiths also showed a good pair of hands as he held three catches.

On Saturday, match day two of the new term sees Sidmouth at home to Clyst Hydon 1st XI, who were opening day winners at home to Budleigh 2nds.