Cloete (pictured) stars with bat and ball as Heathcoat demolish Sidmouth by 156 runs | 'Malcolm was incredible with the ball and barely bowled one not in the right place' – Pete Randerson

Match winner! Tiverton

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

HEATHCOAT march on at the top of the Premier Division table after demolishing Sidmouth by 156 runs.

Heathcoat got to 221 for nine in 50 overs with Peter Randerson (29) and Liam Lewis (40) making early runs then Jamie Drew stroking 27 after three wickets fell getting from 84 to 85.

Heathcoat found fresh legs late on with 57 added in the last eight overs.  Sidmouth spinner Charlie Miles was on the receiving end of some punishment when Malcolm Cloete clobbered him for 18 in one over.

Cloete finished undefeated on 50 having been involved in partnerships that added 98.

There were two wickets each for Sidmouth bowlers Codi Yusuf, Miles, Jordan Fowler and Will Murray, who kept the run rate below three an over from his end.

Cloete had unfinished business with Sidmouth as he took three wickets in a running total of 30 for four and three more as the Seasiders lurched to 50 for eight. Matt Hague (2-25) had the ones in between.

Cloete ran out of overs with a haul of six for 25, which left spinner Jack Menheneott (2-8) to finish the job.

Isaac Thomas made a top score of 23 for defeated Sidmouth. No one else got further than nine.

Heathcoat (72pts) have already opened up an 18-point lead over North Devon at the top of the table. Sidmouth (40pts) have dropped within a point of the relegation places.

Pete Randerson, the Heathcoat captain, said runs had been hard to find at times this season and he was pleased to see some bigger scores in the book.

“We batted better than we have been,” said Randerson.

“Malcolm and Liam showed their class with the bat and it was great to see them both in the runs.

“Malcolm was incredible with the ball and barely bowled one not in the right place. 

“Matt Hague was the perfect opening partner, who gave nothing away and took a couple of big wickets.”

“It may be early days in the Premier Division title race, but Randerson thinks the portents are good.

“We have won at Sidmouth five times in six years so, hopefully, it is a good omen for us,” said Randerson.

Cameron Grainger, still standing in as Sidmouth captain for the injured Luke Bess, said doing half a job is not enough at Premier level.

“Our bowlers did a brilliant job to restrict Heathcoat to 221 for nine on a wicket that didn't seem to be offering too much for the bowlers,” said Grainger. “But they did well to bowl tightly and take regular wickets. 

“Unfortunately, our batting let us down again and no-one got us going. 

“Heathcoat's openers bowled extremely well and managed to find something in the wicket to get the ball moving around.

“We are going to reassess things at training with a big emphasis on batting and fielding.”