Declan Lines was the star of the show as Sidmouth made progress in this season’s Servicemaster Devon T20 competition.

The Fortfield men were in round one group stage action at Paignton where they saw off the hosts with consummate ease before edging a thrilling contest with Torquay to eventually knock out the reigning Devon champions by a margin of four runs.

Batting first in the meeting with Paignton, it was a knock of 43 from Lines and one of 47 from Elliott Rice – with supporting contributions of 21, from Robbie Powell and 15 from Matt Cooke, that saw Sidmouth close on 160-6.

The Lines innings lasted 35 deliveries during which time he hit five fours and a six whilst the Rice knock came off 38 deliveries with the former Budleigh player, who is the only 1st XI batsmen to have scored a half century so far this league season, hitting seven boundaries.

Lines was certainly the headline maker in the second innings as he claimed a six wicket haul (6-17) – a rare feat in a T20 game – with three of his wickets being additional work from behind the stumps by wicket keeper Cameron Evans-Grainger who held two catches and completed smart stumping. Paignton were restricted to 52-8 in their reply to leave Sidmouth handsome winners.

In the final, Sidmouth again batted first and once more Lines was in good form with the bat, top scoring with a 40-ball knock of 48. Luke Bess (46 from 23) and Matt Cooke (17) were the other main contributors in an innings that closed on 18-7.

Torquay, and especially Mitchell Pugh, took the game to the wire with Pugh looking set to win it for his side when, having scored a hard-hitting 10 boundary 71 from 32 balls, he was bowled by Lines and the Torquay reply ended on 154.

Lines finished with figures of 2-36 to leave his day’s efforts being 91 runs from his bat and no fewer than eight wickets for 53 runs.