CLYST Hydon sprung the shock of the season in the C Division East when they beat runaway leaders Sidmouth 2nd XI by 20 runs.
There was an entire division and 132 points between table-toppers Sidmouth and table-proppers Hydon going into the game.
Hydon rattled up 294 for in their 45 overs – Sinthuran Thevaraj (55), skipper Ian Sutton (85) and Mike Cliff (54) all making half-centuries or more.
Thevaraj and Gwillym Davies (42) put on 105 for the first wicket and from then on Hydon never looked back.
Sidmouth picked up the gauntlet and went for the runs all the way down the order to make 274 all out with two overs un-bowled.
Byron Knowles hit 39 and keeper-batter Tom Wainwright 65 as Sidmouth got to 208 for six.
Youngster Ed Hurley batting at sixth wicket down was last man out for 56 off 44 balls – and only then could Hydon celebrate their first win since beating Budleigh Salterton on the opening Saturday of the season.
James Billington (4-51) took the wicket that mattered to see Hydon over the line.
Hydon are still bottom and with 47 points to find to get out of the bottom three have a mountain to climb to reach safety.
But if they can beat a side that had won 10 on the trot, despite losing a key bowler before he had bowled a ball, Hydon aren’t without hope.
Skipper Sutton said: “It all just came together at the right time.
“The openers set a great platform and playing at home we know it's possible to get 200 off the last 20 with wickets in hand and we very nearly did.
“Credit to Sidmouth they were never out of it and we never felt comfortable.
“And when Mike Cliff went down injured right at the start of his spell I thought we might struggle, but everyone stepped up and we kept chipping away.”
Hydon have another toughie this Saturday: second-placed Kilmington.
BRAUNTON’S players and supporters won’t have any finger nails left to chew if they have too many more last-gasp finishes this season.
Saturday’s two-run win over Exeter 2ndXI was the FOURTH time in 11 games this season Braunton have left it until the last over to wrap up a win.
Exeter were beaten with one ball to spare when the sides met on the County Ground back in May.
Braunton had two balls left when they beat Whimple and three in the win over Feniton.
They could not have cut it any finer second time round against Exeter as the result was in doubt until the middle of the last over.
Braunton were all out for 222 - Nick Horne and Charlie Kidson had three wickets each for Exeter - and with 10 overs left the city side were cruising at 175 for four.
“It came down to 15 to win off the last two overs – I bowled the first one – and I took two wickets,” said Braunton captain Dan Brierley.
“Alex Hodges (4-30) bowled the last over and with three balls to go they need three to win and two to tie with their last man facing. Alex had him caught behind.”
When Braunton batted the top scorers was opener Jon Baglow (40), who put on 80 with Callum Mitchell (37).
Rob Patterson (34), Phil James 928) and Martin Smith (23) all chipped in.
Horne and Charlie Kidson had three wickets each for Exeter.
Braunton are away to Ottery St Mary this Saturday.
Exeter’s run getters were opener Sean Langford (55), Kidson (55) and Callum Hogan (22).
AN Ollie West century wasn’t enough to give Ottery St Mary victory in the derby clash with Kilmington.
West made 113, and there was a half-century for Joe Henkus (57) in Ottery’s 275 for seven.
Billy Read the slammed a top score of 90, and John Short tucked in or 69, as Kilmington chased to win by six wickets.
Ottery have dropped below halfway with a home game against Braunton coming next.
ALPHINGTON steamed to a sixth successive win and not a dropped point in any of them when they routed Whimple by 120 runs.
Matt Taylor and D J van Vuuren (52) laid down a platform that Alphas’ skipper Luke Phillips (61) built on to reach a total of 240 for nine.
Cameron Kidd 93-29) and Matt Brown (2-21) were the best of Whimple’s bowlers.
Whimple were all out in reply for 120, no one making more than Matt Brown (32). Kevin Thompson made 28.
Tom Ballett (2-28) got wickets at the front end, Stuart Shaw (2-25) spun away in the middle and Mark Halse (4-11) polished off the stragglers.
Alphington’s winning form will be seriously tested this Saturday when they play leaders Sidmouth.
ROB Pfeipher hit a century that teed-up Feniton for a 37-run win over lowly Budleigh Salterton 2ndXI.
Pfeipher – 16 fours, one six, 104 balls – went in at eight for one and was ninth man out.
Along the way Pfeipher and Alex Frankpitt (78) put on 146 for the fifth wicket, pulling Feniton up from 42 for four.
Sid Fereday took four for 37 and there were two wickets each for Matt Murphy and Will Oxland.
Budleigh, one of the bottom and 44 points below the drop line, were all out for 211.
They got to 210 for six – Will Oxland (77), Donovan Robinson (35) and Joe Marley (21) doing the work – then lost four wickets for one run and the match too.
Kevin Brandom (5-49) and Jon French (2-39) rolled Budleigh over at the end.
