Sidmouth 2nds were last ball winners by a margin of three wickets when they entertained Plymouth II at Fortfield.

It was a patient knock of 48 from Nick Mansfield that saw Sidmouth to a third win of the 2nd XI Premier Division campaign and they have reached the one-third mark of the season sitting forth, thirty points behind unbeaten leaders Exeter II.

The contest was decided in a thrilling last over at the start of which Sidmouth required seven for victory.

Anthony Dibble scored a brace off the first delivery, but then had his stumps knocked over the next ball!

Fionn Wardrop played and missed at the third ball, but Mansfield was on his toes and the batsmen bagged a bye. The next two deliveries also yielded byes leaving Sidmouth needing two runs off the final ball.

Mansfield rifled the last delivery to square leg where a fielding ‘fumble’ allowed the batsmen to get the two runs required to seal success!

Chasing the Plymouth offering of 161-7 there seemed to be no hope for the Fortfield men with half the side back in the pavilion and the score board showing 69-5!

It was Mansfield who launched the recovery, aided by Dec Lines (23) and Dibble (20).

First Mansfield and Lines added a very patient 53, before Dibble added some much needed impetus to the innings, raising a further 35 with Mansfield.

Of the top order only Nick Gingell (33) made an impression as Sidmouth’s batsmen again found a variety of ways to get themselves out on a decent wicket.

The most talked about dismissal post match was that of Will Gater!

Gater was batting when he cracked a straight drive that caused Mansfield, at the other end, to take evasive action, throwing himself to the floor.

Gater called for a single and set off, not realising that his batting partner was still prone on the turf!

He turned to return to his crease only to trip and the bails were whipped off to leave him run out for four!

Earlier the visitors’ top three had all contributed and, at 139-1 after 39 overs Plymouth had wickets in hand to post a healthy total.

It is to the home bowlers’ credit that they restricted the late innings run flow and James Pickard claimed two wickets for 21 runs from nine impressive overs and that man Mansfield set himself up for a good all-round shift as he took two wickets for 24 runs from four overs.

On Saturday Sidmouth make the short trip to Exmouth who have also banked 77 points from their first six games this season.