Sidmouth 2nd XI batsman Byron Knowles hit the winning runs and sent the ball through a car windscreen in the process as the home side won a ‘bizarre’ encounter at the Fortfield.

The game bags the ‘bizarre’ tag for it was won by Sidmouth 2nds, but they won the game scoring fewer runs than Bovey Tracey and also lost fewer wickets than the beaten side!

On a day when weather threatened to prematurely end the action – as it did at many grounds across the Tolchards Drinks Devon League match day 12, winning the toss can make ‘all the difference’.

Batting second is always a huge advantage when the rules on overs being lost to the weather comes into play!

Sidmouth won the toss and skipper Dec Lines invited his opposite number to bat first.

The Bovey openers found the Fortifeld track to be another beauty (as ever, superbly produced by Colin Whitehall and his team).

The first wicket saw 100 on the board before a fine catch from Isaac Thomas off the bowling of Charlie Dibble.

A run out claimed a second Bovey wicket before rain arrived and the players sought refuge in the Fortfield pavilion for a short break.

There was to be another rain interruption and the innings ended prematurely after 35 hours on 135-3.

The Sidmouth reply was boosted by a knock of 33 from Thomas Moore, but, with the chase in 75-4 rain arrived once more and a revised target was set asking Sidmouth to reach 112 for victory.

They slipped to 104-7, but number nine bat, club chairman Fionn Wardrop joined teenager Knowles at the crease and it was the latter who thumped a six to bring up victory – putting the ball through a car windscreen in the process!

Knowles finished unbeaten on a run-a-ball 21 and Wardrop was not out two from three deliveries faced, as Sidmouth defeated their nearest rivals for the title, on run rate.