WATER caused a delay in the opening game of the East Devon Indoor Cricket League which saw Sidmouth edge out Ottery St Mary, writes John Goodwin.

A mystery pool hampered Miles Dalton's fielding at deep mid off and the encounter had to wait until it had been mopped up.

Ottery had won the toss and batted with George Biggs and James Faulkner providing a firm platform and soon scoring at 10 an over.

Biggs retired with 28 to his name and Faulkner was bowled by Fionn Wardrop, three short of the 25 retirement mark.

The later Ottery batsmen were unable to maintain quite the same rate but a total of 106-3 looked challenging.

Sidmouth lost Dalton at 25, but Anthony Griffiths and Wardrop averted any collapse with both reaching the retirement score.

Griffiths returned to the crease after Charlie Miles and Nick Mansfield departed in quick succession and moved on to 30 not out. John Goodwin hit the winning runs in the penultimate over to take his score to 28.

?Reigning champions Clyst Hydon tripped up in their first game of the season, beaten by their own club’s second string.

Ian Sutton’s 52 provided the bulk of the first team’s 105 all out which was passed with two balls to spare, thanks largely to the efforts of Lewis Morgan and Tim Piper, who were unbeaten with 42 and 40 respectively.

?Exmouth hit the top score of the day with 167-3 against Newton Poppleford.

A fusillade containing five sixes and two fours from Richard Arnold, who reached 46 not out, set the tone and George Greenaway with 25 not out, James Tapper with 23 and Peter Hall with 23 not out prolonged the firework display.

With three ducks Newton Poppleford were never in contention and were dismissed for 44 in six overs, Matt Tarry sending down two of them for four runs and three wickets.

?Top individual scorer was Yarcombe & Stockland’s Ben Fuzzard, run out for 61 in his side’s 133-3 which proved too much for Tipton St John. Andy Paulman’s unbeaten 30 and Neil Fuzzard’s 26 not out kept the rate healthy.

Tipton replied with 92-4, Paul Williamson’s 18 not out and Dickie Dawson’s 18 their top scores.