Sidmouth suffered what may prove to be a terminal defeat in terms of their bid to retain the Tolchards Devon League title when they slipped to a five wicket defeat at Paignton.

When skipper Zach Bess won the toss and wasted no time in batting first on a baking hot day at Paignton, he surely could not have imagined his team being bundled out in just 34.3 overs for a paltry 140!

Josh Bess, a centurion the week before, was first to go for 16 with the score on 25 and it was soon 2-36 when the returning Liam Lewis was dismissed for nine.

Matt Cooke, batting at three, was third man out, in his case for 23 and, when skipper Zach Bess was out for 22, Sidmouth were wobbling on 75-4. It was soon 93-5 with the loss of Nick Gingell for seven and, when Anthony Griffiths fell for nine, Sidmouth were 100-6. That was quickly 124-7 with the demise of Scott Barlow for 13.

Dan Powell scored 20 to lift the total to 130, but Will Murray (7) and last man Charlie Miles (0) were both soon in, and out, as the innings closed midway through the 35th over for that 140 total.

No single bowler stood out as all six of the Paignton players tasked with delivering the ball bagged at least one wicket.

The home side made a solid start, easing to 45 before the first wicket fell, a Dan Powell catch off the bowling of Scott Barlow.

From 87-1, Paignton slipped to 123-5 after a quick-fire four wicket blast from Josh Bess, but it was all too little too late as Paignton sealed a five wicket win one ball into the 45th over.

Josh Bess took the bowling honours with his figures of 4-45 from 10 overs, the other wicket taker was Scott Barlow who finished with 1-36 from 10 overs.

So, 10 games into the 18 game season, Sidmouth find themselves now fifth, closer, in points terms, to the relegation zone rather then the top slot – currently occupied by Bovey Tracey who are 46 points better off than the Fortfield men.

The next two games will go a long way to proving if this is to be a barren season for Sidmouth as they host third-placed Bradninch on Saturday (July 15) and the travel to Bovey Tracey the Saturday after.