Sidmouth slumped to a sixth defeat of the Tolchards Devon League Premier Division campaign when beaten by a margin of 138 runs by relegation-threatened Heathcoat.

The Fortfield faithful saw the home side crash from 87-2, looking to chased down the Heathcoat offering of 266-7, to 128 all out, losing their last eight wickets for just 41 runs.

The loss means there is a very real chance that Sidmouth will finish outside the top three this season with Bovey Tracey, Bradninch and Exmouth all currently above them in the top flight table.

Sidmouth skipper Luke Bess won the toss and invited Heathcoat to bat first. With opening bowlers Tom Simmons and Scott Barlow unable to find an early breakthrough it was left to first change Liam Lewis to strike and he removed both openers to leave Heathcoat 54-2 after 10.3 overs.

When former Fortfield player Pete Randerson was stumped off the bowling of young Max Hancock, it was 100-3 after 23.3 overs.

Then the Mid Devon side’s middle order batsmen took charge and half centuries from Jackson Thompson, Jack Dart and Will Thompson provided the basis for a closing total of 266-7 after their 50 overs.

Liam Lewis took the bowling honours with 3-59 and Scott Barlow bagged 2-54 while there were single wickets for Max Hancock (1-35) and Dec Lines (1-36).

Anthony Griffiths and Dec Lines put on 56 fore the opening wicket in the reply before Lines fell for 17 midway through the 13th over. Four overs later Griffiths joined him back in the pavilion having been dismissed for what would prove to be the top score in the reply, 31.

From 74-2, the innings collapsed to 94-5 and then 118-7 before coming to an end on 128 after 38.5 overs.

The ‘best of the rest’ after the Griffiths effort with the bat, was 24 extras and the only other batters into double figures, apart from the opening pair, were Luke Bess (19), Liam Lewis (11|) NSD Scott Barlow (10).

Sidmouth play their final home game of the season next Saturday (August 26) with the visit of North Devon and they wrap the campaign up on the first Saturday of September with a visit to Plymouth.