Sidmouth III batsman, 18-year-old Issac Thomas delivered a superb batting display to see the side to a 19-point victory at Bradninch II in a Tolchards Devon League B Division (East) game.

Thomas scored a magnificent 148 from the opening slot. He and Mike Pidgeon slammed 50 off the first five overs and 80 from the first 8.5 overs before Pidgeon departed for 20. His was to be just one of two other double figure scores in an innings totally dominated by the Thomas knock.

Batsmen three to nine were all back in the pavilion for single figure scores before number ten batter Lee Clayden hit 19 and helped Thomas add what was a match-deciding 59 for the ninth wicket as Sidmouth eventually closed on 211 with Thomas the final wicket to fall.

The Thomas innings saw his first 50 arrive in 28 balls and his second 50 came in 46 to give him a 74-ball century. In all he faced 107 balls, scored 14 fours and failed to score off just 21 of the balls he faced. Interestingly, his first 82 runs saw him use up just 54 balls and the he traded solely in singles to reach his century and the opened up again to power his way towards 150 before holing out to a stunning catch at mid-off to become the tenth and final wicket to fall for his side. He’d scored 148 of the teams 211!

There were others to catch the eye on a very good day for the Fortfield third eleven. Notably, young Jordan Fowler, who batted at number six and stayed longer with the centurion than any other Sidmouth player. Fowler faced 45 balls for his knock of eight and put on 20 for the sixth wicket with Thomas. Lee Clayden, batting at number ten, scored 19 and helped Thomas add 59 for the ninth wicket which arguably won the game in terms of the end scores with the margin of victory being 54 runs.

The Bradninch reply saw wickets tumble at regular intervals with only the 46-run sixth wicket partnership between Will Birley (30) and Luke Wrightson (29) holding up the inevitable Sidmouth success.

The last home pair stuck at it and the home innings closed on 157-8 giving Sidmouth a 19 point haul.

Sidmouth skipper Graham Munday used eight different bowlers and he claimed a wicket - aided by a Scott Newbery catch behind the stumps. Clayden completed a fine all-round shift with two wickets for 18 runs in nine tidy overs. Pidgeon also bagged a brace (2-33 from nine) and the other wicket takers were Jordan Fowler (1-20 in eight) and Ben Johnson (1-23 in four).