Sidmouth 2nd XI won a ‘home’ game ‘away’ on a splendid all-round day for the side.

With the club’s Fortfield home turned over to car parking during the Sidmouth Folk Week, the game with Exeter II was switched to the University sports ground in Topsham, Exeter, where skipper Nick Gingell led the side to a 25-run success.

In a contest that became one of 35-overs-per-side owing to the midday rain, Gingell led from the front chipping in with 39 as Sidmouth closed the first 15 overs on 73-2.

Matt Hewer provided the main contribution with a knock of 54 and Saj Patidar chipped in with 38.

A feature of the batting performance was the running between the wickets. The innings closed on 188, aided by 29 extra’s and that figure came home to roost at the end of the game!

After a superb tea that had seen all the players (with major assistance from wive’s, girl friends and Mums!) chip in, Sidmouth returned to the field with the ball and Fionn Wardrop made the early break through courtesy of a smart extra-cover catch by skipper Gingell.

The next Exeter pair looked in great shape as Robin Fern and Alec Bosomworth put on 94. They did have some good Miles Dalton bowled Fern for 66. Bosomworth and Tom Richardson (18) added another 32 to take the score to 143 for 3 with five-and-a-half overs remaining.

A situation of 33 balls to be bowled, seven wickets in hand, and 45 runs required, favoured the home side. However, teenager Harvey Sargent and Saj Patidar had other ideas and the pair bowled in tandem to take wickets, restrict run flow and eventually see the reply close on 163-9 leaving Sidmouth victors!

Sargent finished with best bowling figures of the day with four wickets for 26 from six overs whilst Patidar, who volunteered to bowl the closing overs, took three wickets for five runs from a brace of overs.