BARTON 2nd XI made speedy progress to a seven-wicket win over Sidmouth 3rd XI, who had laboured to 116 when batting first after a delayed start reduced the contest to 43 overs a side.

Revelling in the generous helping of short balls sent down by the Sidmouth attack, Barton had 75 on the board in 11 overs before they lost a wicket, David Sykes making good ground on the mid wicket boundary to grab a pull inches off the turf.

A second wicket fell at 90 when Steve Lewis, who had made 66 in 49 balls, struck a cut to point where Joe Fowler held the catch off Andy Green.

George House got his second wicket with an lbw decision, but it hardly delayed the inevitable, Barton completing their win in the 20th over with 24 still to bowl.

Sidmouth lost Tom Overthrow in the first over, but Mike Dibble and John Goodwin rode their luck to patiently build a half century stand for the second wicket.

It was broken in the 21st over when Goodwin was bowled for 23 and, after that, there were no significant partnerships.

Joe Fowler swished 13 in 12 balls and George House was looking comfortable with 12 to his name when Dibble called him for an over-ambitious single.

Dibble soon followed for 34 and the innings subsided rapidly - Sidmouth gave Barton an extra over after not occupying their full complement.

Tomorrow the side continues its search for a first victory of the season at Chudleigh.