A fine all-round contribution from teenager Harvey Sargent helped guide Sidmouth II to an eighth win of the 2nd XI Premier Division season.

What’s more, their 22-point haul from the Fortfield victory and a surprise defeat for morning table-toppers Exeter II at home to basement-dwellers Heathcoat II leaves Sidmouth top of the table, 16 points clear of the field with seven games to play.

Plympton won the toss and made a confident start racking up 60 from the first 11 overs.

It was a change of bowling which first stemmed the flow of runs and led to the fall of wickets.

Charlie Dibble removed the opening and bagged two more quick wickets to leave the visitors wobbling on 65-3.

Miles Dalton was operating at the other end with his mystery spin and that led to him working his way through a rapid nine over spell that yielded a brace of wickets.

Plympton fought back with a middle-order half century, but the off-spin if young Sargent saw him claim a pair of wickets and the all-round excellence of the Sargent game came to the fore when he held a stunning diving catch at fine leg to help Nick Mansfield claim a wicket.

The visiting tail waged sufficient for the last wicket to add a precious 38 runs before the last wicket fell, holing out to Alistair Chilcott on the boundary.

The Sidmouth run chase was dealt early blows with both Dec Lines and Nick Mansfield returned to the Fortfield pavilion with 18 runs on the board. Will Gater made 23 before he became the third wicket to fall.

This brought Sargent to the wicket to join Saj Patidar and the pair were soon putting bat to ball with great efficiency to add 123 for the unbroken fourth wicket to guide the home side to a tremendous seven wicket success.

Sargent finished unbeaten on 68 whilst Patidar was not out 64 when the winning runs were scored.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Sidmouth II complete two-thirds of the Premier Division season when they fifth placed Paignton II.