Sidmouth III were 58-run winners over Alphington II on then hottest day of the cricket season to date.

After winning a rare toss skipper Stuart Munday opted to bat.

Powell and Sargent came up against a very good line and length from the Alphas’ opening pairing and Powell was dismissed with just one to his name.

The early wicket brought new man, South African, Darren Beggs to the wicket.

Beggs was quickly into his stride to make a stunning first impression on his new team mates as he stroked his way to a 14-boundary 91 that included two big sixes.

The new man was ruthless with every bad delivery, and when the ball was delivered to the stumps he put away some excellent straight drives.

Sargent was second man out for a splendid 47 and Griffiths was in and out, with just five to his name before skipper Munday joined Beggs and fashioned a well-crafted 34.

Beggs finally fell just a couple of blows short of what would have been a deserved debut century. Fowler, Gater, and House followed him with their collective offering amounting to six and it was left to number ten bat Gary Turner and last man Toby Seldon to hit 12 and 15 respectively to see the Sidmouth innings to 255 when the final wicket fell in the 43rd over.

The home innings began with Turner and House entrusted with the new ball.

Turner once again bowled consistent line and length and kept the run rate low, generating figures of 1-29 from his nine.

House struggled to find his line and length early on, but eventually hit the mark and especially within his second spell, bowled disciplined line and length with good pace to finish with 3-22 from 6.1 overs.

Gater was first change, going for 31 in three overs whilst Seldon followed suit, he went for 30 in three.

It was then left to Sargent and skipper Munday to take over and it was the former who claimed the vital Alphas wicket, caught by House on the boundary.

Munday picked up a wicket before House came back to polish things off an see Alphington bowled out for 197 with nine overs of the contest remaining.

Tomorrow the team entertain Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough, who sit fifth in the league, two places and 30 points behind Sidmouth.