DREAMS of playing at Lord s, the home of cricket, evaporated for Sidmouth CC when they failed to play to potential in the regional finals of the national indoor championship at the County Ground, Taunton.

DREAMS of playing at Lord's, the home of cricket, evaporated for Sidmouth CC when they failed to play to potential in the regional finals of the national indoor championship at the County Ground, Taunton.They were drawn against South Oxfordshire side Peppard in the first semi final and looked destined to post a good score as Anthony Griffiths and Matt Cooke had few alarms in the opening overs.However, for the first time on the road through county, south west peninsula and regional rounds of the competition, Griffiths failed to reach the retirement score of 25 when he was run out for 15.Cooke went on to retire at 25, but a rapid crash of wickets saw him soon back at the crease with John Goodwin for a salvage operation. Cooke went on to make 32 not out and Goodwin 17 not out in a total of 98-4.Having bowled so miserly in previous rounds, Sidmouth had high hopes of defending this, but conceded 14 wides and five no-balls which took the heat off the run chase for Peppard.Nevertheless there was a stage when the Devon side seemed to be gaining the upper hand after one of the Peppard openers retired with 25, and Barlow sent down his final over and conceded only one run.Griffiths held a catch at mid-off to give Graham Munday the first of two wickets and Dalton leapt high to parry a high drive and then cushion the descending ball on his stomach before grasping it.A run out brought the retired opener back to the crease and he calmly saw off the nine needed off the final over, leaving one ball spare.