Sidmouth’s grip on the runners-up berth in the Tolchards Devon League Premier Division was loosened as they went down by 35-runs at North Devon.

The home side batted first in a game reduced to 45-overs per side owing to the ground needing time to dry out after the heavy rain of the preceding days.

A total of 194-5 represented a good afternoon’s work for Will Murray and his fellow Sidmouth bowlers.

Matt Cooke was the most successful, finishing with figures of 3-40 from eight overs. The other wicket takers were Jake Fawcett and Ch\rlie Miles.

Cooke then contributed the top score, chalking up 46 from the opening slot.

However, only skipper Murray was able to match that sort of effort with the bat as he scored 42 from the number five berth and the run chase came up short, Sidmouth losing their 10th and final wicket with the Instow score board showing 159 after 36.4 overs.

On Saturday Murray’s men bring the curtain down on the 2015 league season whn they host Exeter.

The Fortfield men will be runners-up as long as they four more points than North Devon do when they travel to relegated Paignton.