Sidmouth 1st XI duo Luke Bess and South African Aviwe Mgijima were at the forefront of another comprehensive win for the Fortfield men, both hitting centuries in what was ultimately a 202-run win over a Bovey Tracey side that came into the contest having won four successive Premier Division games.

Batting first, Sidmouth lost the previous weekend’s centurion, Josh Bess, out for a 45-ball 35, a knock that included three sixes and two fours.

They also lost Dec Lines, in his case out for four. However, the Lines wicket fell with the score on 53 and the third wicket was not lost until their scoreboard had a healthy 280 runs on show!

The pair added 227 for the third wicket, which was that of skipper Luke Bess, but not before he had scored a wonderful 135-ball 119 hitting 13 fours and three sixes. Mgijima was joined by Zach Bess and they took the total to 345 before a wonderful innings from Mgijima finally came to an end with him being caught off the 88th delivery he faced. The South African slammed no fewer than seven sixes and also rifled 11 fours in a terrific knock of 132. Bess was joined for the last knockings of the innings by Henry Gater, who was not out two at the close whole Bess, who had been at the wicket for just 26 deliveries, was not out 54 having hit three fours and three sixes and Sidmouth closed on 369-4 after their 50 overs.

Bovey Tracey’s reply was hit in the early stages by a run out inspired by a Luke Bess throw, but, from 11-1, they reached three figures before, with the score on 119, a second run out, this time initiated by Elliott Rice, was followed by a third wicket being claimed, a catch behind by Cameron Evans-Grainger off the bowling of Charlie Miles and Bovey were three down with 152 runs on the board.

That proved to be about as good as it got for the reigning top flight champions for, from 152-3, they collapsed to 167 all out in 39.1 overs, losing their final eight wickets for the addition of just 15 runs. All five of the Sidmouth bowlers claimed wickets with Charlie Miles bagging the most; his three wicket return was amidst figures of 3-37 from seven overs. Josh Bess – who took the new ball with Aviwe Mgijima – returned figures of 2-42 from a full 10 while the South African’s return was 1-34 from 7.1 overs. There were also single wickets for Will Murray (1-45 from 10) and Zach Bess (1-24 from five).

So, another 20 point win and Sidmouth stay top of the Premier Division.

They still hold a single point lead over Exeter who also banked a maximum in their home win over Bradninch.