Sidmouth IIIs were thwarted by the rain in their attempts to bag another Tolchards Devon League B Division East 2nd XI success.

Taking on Bradninch 2nds at Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth had the visitors 80-9 when the rain, which had begun to fall 10 overs into the contest, finally sent the teams off after 29 overs had been delivered.

The Mid Devon side had made a good solid start and had reached 44 when first change, Graham Munday, was introduced from the score board end and promptly picked up three quick wickets two to catches by Wesley Holmes and wicketkeeper Ken Clay and one leg before decision, to reduce Bradninch to 48-3.

It was 57-4 when second change, Jordan Fowler, got a wicket courtesy of a Luke Raistrick catch. Three runs later Fowler struck again with a successful leg before decision and it was soon 62-6 with Luke Raistrick, introduced after six splendid overs from Munday (3-5), picked up the first of his three wickets – all bowled.

It was just after Raistrick bagged his third with the final ball of his fourth over, that the umpire finally decided enough was enough and 13 soggy cricketers scurried for cover.

An early tea was taken, but the rain stuck around and, at 4.40pm the teams gave up and the contest was declared as an abandoned one with Sidmouth picking up 10 points to the visiting side’s eight.

In terms of those bowling figures, Munday dished up the ‘stand-out’ ones with his five overs seeing him take three wickets for just five runs. Raistrick finished with 3-23 from four, Fowler ended with 2-9 from six and the other bowlers used were opening seamers Tim Drake (nine overs, 0-25) and Wesley Holmes (five overs, 0-18).