Sidbury CC Under-11s were narrow winners when they entertained Honiton.

The visiting skipper won the toss and invited Sidbury to bat first. The home side were given a solid start by openers Alec Bagwell and Luca Aver who scored a number of boundaries.

The momentum was kept up by fine contributions from Zac Arver, who retired with his wicket intact, and Tom Grove, whose wicket was lost, but not until just before the close of the innings with Sidbury ending on 137.

The Honiton run chase began confidently, but they were pegged back by a terrific fast seaming delivery from Esme Bagwell that knocked over the stumps.

The visiting middle order continued to keep their side ‘up with the run-rate’. There was a run-out for the home side, but, with five overs remaining, Honiton were on 120 and looking set to go on and seal victory.

Tom Grove and Alec Bagwell were introduced into the Sidbury attack with real success!

Gove bowled a maiden over to begin to pressure the Honiton batters and that was followed by an 18th over hat-trick from Bagwell which left the outcome of the match very much in the balance.

At the start of the final over Honiton required 11 runs to win. With Grove and Bagwell bowled out a volunteer was sought to send down the all-important final over.

Esme Bagwell stepped forward and the first delivery was a ‘dot ball’ which was followed by a wicket ball! Four balls left and still 11 runs to get for Honiton who then sent in a batter who had earlier retired having reaches the mandatory ‘retirement’ score.

Ball four of the over went for two leaving eight runs required from the final two deliveries. Young Esme kept her nerve and saw the penultimate ball only go for one and, although the Honiton batter stuck the last ball to the boundary for four, Sidbury had sealed a thrilling two-run success.