THREE centuries were registered in a run glut Sunday match between Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton.

Sidmouth’s tons came from Luke Bess and Will Sobczak who shared a 154-run partnership for the second wicket as the home side registered 280-4 in their 40 overs.

Budleigh were not daunted by the challenge and Elliot Rice and Rob Craze got them within reach of victory.

Rice’s big hitting got the required run rate to manageable proportions, but a miscue saw him caught on the long-off boundary by Will Murray off Sobczak for 109. Craze went for 71 but Ben Carter also struck several massive blows to keep the visitors in the hunt.

Murray brought himself on to bowl in the last few overs to stem the flow of runs and Budleigh finished 14 runs short of victory with four wickets down. The least expensive of the home bowlers was Lee Clayden whose eight overs cost 26.

Runs were harder to come by the previous day when Sidmouth hosted Frocester, runners-up in the West of England Premier League.

The visitors were dismissed for 167, which represented something of a fightback after they had been 30-5. Will Gater took a four-wicket haul

Sidmouth recovered from losing Anthony Griffiths to the first ball of the reply and Will Sobczak to the seventh to win by seven wickets with 15 overs to spare. Josh Bess, with 70 not out, and Peter Randerson, 75, led the recovery with 150 for the third wicket.

Sidmouth 2nd XI travelled to Thorverton where the home side reached a target of 152 to win by two wickets.

Tomorrow Sidmouth travel to Bath, the West of England Premier League champions, as they continue their warm-up games prior to the Francis Clark Devon League Premier Division programme starting on May 3.

The 2nd XI host Exeter, who they have vied with over recent seasons for the Devon League 2nd XI championship.

Sunday’s opponents are Chudleigh and in a hastily arranged fixture the Fortfield will be hosting a 50-over challenge match between Devon and Exeter University on Easter Monday. This game starts at 11.30am.

It was originally to be played on Sunday at Budleigh Salterton but drainage problems at the Ottermouth ground prompted a rescheduling.