Sidmouth 2nds were able to welcome Nick Gingell for his first appearance of the season in the league eleven for the home meeting with Exeter.

The visitors won the toss and, on what looked like an absolute road at Fortfield, unsurprisingly opted to bat first.

For the second week running Joe Griffiths and Toby Seldon were tasked with the new ball duties.

Griffiths, in particular, beat the outside edge of the Exeter bats on countless occasions and fully deserved the three wicket haul he ended with.

Skipper Gingell, on the hottest day of the season to date, switched his bowlers around to great effect and wickets fell at regular intervals, three of them to the captain, and the visiting innings ended on 158. Griffiths (3-22) Gingell (3-27) and Charlie Dibble (2-23) were the main wicket takers.

Sidmouth’s reply served up some terrific entertainment for Fortfield crowd basking in glorious sunshine. There were early wickets lost with Isaac Thomas – promoted from the thirds after a big century the week before – another recent centurion – Matt Hewer – were both returned to the pavilion without troubling the scorers! However, skipper Gingell (25) and Robbie Powell (23), played supporting acts to a superb innings from Nick Mansfield that saw him thump an unbeaten 74 to lead the home side to a maximum point, five wicket win.

At the midway stage of the league season the 2nd XI sit top of the Premier Division with 151 points, three more than second placed Plymouth and 35 more than third placed Exeter.

The second half of the season begins tomorrow (Saturday) with a visit to fourth placed Plympton.