SIDMOUTH must play a waiting game to see if they qualify for the county indoor six-a-side cricket finals after skipper Anthony Griffiths and Miles Dalton produced batting master classes to help their side win the last game of their programme against Exmouth, writes John Goodwin.

Clyst Hydon, who beat Yarcombe and Stockland by 32 runs, still have one game to play, against Newton St Cyres, on January 15.

The form book suggests they will win, meaning the East Devon Indoor League representative will be decided by deducting wickets lost from wickets taken with both Sidmouth and Clyst Hydon having lost one game each.

?Sidmouth’s match against Exmouth was a potential banana skin, but openers Griffiths and Dalton both reached the retirement score and returned to the crease to make 42 and 45 respectively.

Sean Butler, who had difficulty directing his bowling and sent down 10 wides and no balls, had no such difficulty with his football skills, kicking a ball directly on to the stumps to run out Nick Mansfield for five.

This reunited Sidmouth’s opening pair who pushed the score up to 136 all out with Griffiths run out off the final ball.

Exmouth’s batting did not fire after Julian Page was run out in the first over. It was left to James Tapper and Matt Tarry to take the score up to 77-4 in reply, Mansfield taking 1-8 in his three overs.

?Tipton St John turned in their performance of the season to defeat Ottery St Mary by six wickets.

Opener George Biggs, with 37, and last man Duncan Bradshaw Smith, with 21, produced the only redeeming features of the Ottery innings which ended at 94 in the 11th over.

In his three overs which produced a wicket and 19 runs, Joe Birch sent down a maiden.

Tipton paced their reply to perfection with James Quick, Adam Gibbins and Birch all reaching 25, the latter ending the match with a six.

?The battle of the Newtons – Poppleford and St Cyres – saw the latter emerge victorious by five runs. They reached 122 all out with D Talha making 47 at opener.

Openers Tom Clay and Alan Cardwell got Poppleford off to the perfect start, both reaching the retirement mark but a lack of acceleration left the side too much to do in the final straight.

Sixteen were needed to win off the last over with father and son James and George House at the crease. Six were needed off the final delivery, but House senior could score only one. George finished 19 not out.

?Clyst Hydon’s 128-2 proved beyond Yarcombe who replied with 96-5, Neil Fuzzard 27 not out at the close. Ian Sutton, who usually keeps wicket for Hydon, took 2-14 to add to his 25 no. Chris Jelley and Lewis Bowen also reached 25 for Clyst Hydon.