JUSTIN Quick of Tipton St John hit the highest score of the day in the East Devon Indoor Cricket League with 69 not out in a run feast with Newton St Cyres, writes John Goodwin.

St Cyres fielded only five men and Tipton exploited the gaps to make plenty of threes, interspersed with regular boundaries, as a total of 181-5 was amassed.

Quick retired on 25 after enjoying a sound opening partnership with Dickie Dawson, who made 22. Steve Shaw added 20 and Dave Alford 26 and, when all Tipton’s other batsmen were dismissed, Quick carried on single-handed to reach 69.

St Cyres set off in hot pursuit of their target and had 60 on the board after three overs with Phil Dale and Phil Denham both retiring quickly.

Adam Gibbins struck for the first of his three wickets and David Birch grabbed a brace to bring Dale and Denham back to the crease. Denham added only three to his total but Dale moved on to 67 before Gibbins snared him with the score on 152 and still two overs to bowl.

?Sidmouth moved clear at the top of the table with three wins from three, the other unbeaten side, Clyst Hydon II, having a week off. They made 163-3 against Newton Poppleford with Anthony Griffiths making 49 in two visits to the crease. His first one lasted only two overs as he reached 25.

There were quick 25s too from Miles Dalton, who returned to reach 37 not out, and Charlie Miles. Best of the rest was Nick Mansfield’s 18. Dave Goldthorpe took two of the three wickets to fall, Matthew Raistrick the other.

Goldthorpe was 17 not out as Newton Poppleford replied with 70-4. Richard Coombs made 18 at opener before becoming one of the victims in Dalton’s 2-5.

?Exmouth’s unbeaten record fell to Clyst Hydon, who piled up 141-4 before dismissing their opposition for 60 in 9.2 overs.

Ian Sutton top scored for Clyst Hydon with 36 not out, Simon Holmes made an unbeaten 29 and Paul Milner 27.

?Clyst St George had Chris Lewis’s 36 to thank for getting them up to 78 against Ottery St Mary, who achieved four run outs to end the innings in eight overs. It proved wholly inadequate, with James Faulkner being the only casualty as Ottery reached 79-1, George Biggs reaching 26 not out.