SIDMOUTH’S lead at the top of the Premier Division has opened up to 30 points following their 76-run win over Exmouth.

Exmouth went into the clash on the Fortfield second in the table and looking to gain ground on the leaders.

Heathcoat are now second after a third straight win with Exmouth a further three points behind in third place.

With six games and 120 points to play for, Sidmouth aren’t over the horizon yet.

The reality of the situation is Sidmouth probably have to lose three of their last six games to let the title get away from them, and that presumes the sides chasing them keep winning.

SIdmouth were all out for 256 in the 47th of their 50 overs – not as mxany as they looked like getting when the running total was 68 for two after 10.

Liam Lewis got 51 before he was third out at 110.

Exmouth got the brake on for a while with George Greenway (2-34) and Callum French (2-34) hard to get away.

Dan Powell raised the tempo with 30 off 29 balls then Henry Gater (42) and Will Murray (35) knocked up 79 for the seventh wicket. Shorn Bobb (3-52) cleared up the tail-enders.

Exmouth were all out for 180 in reply – undone by the relative failure of their top five batters.

Bob Dawson (22) and Richard Baggs (47) put on 68 for the sixth wicket and had one of them batted through Exmouth  may have pulled it off.

Matt Cooke (3-46) spun out Dawson them Baggs and followed up with George Greenway as the Exmouth challenge faded.

Opening bowler Zak Bess knocked over tail-enders Alvin Pollard and Bob in the space of four balls to put the result beyond doubt.

Winning captain Luke Bess said the result wasn’t as clear-cut as it appeared.

“It was a game that ebbed and flowed, fortunately we came out on the right side,” he said.

“I felt we were 30 short of par, but Henry Gater and Will Murray batted fantastically to get us up to 250-plus.

“We bowled well early to build the pressure and push the rate up.

“With Richard Baggs going in at seven Exmouth have a long batting line up, so we never really felt safe until near the end.”

Baggs said he had no complaints about the result, only the way his team bowled.

“Sidmouth bowled with much more control and stuck to a game plan,” said Baggs.

“Our seamers, with the exception of George Geenway who bowled excellentl, either bowled too short or on both sides of the wicket.

“We simply cannot let teams get to 50 or 60 after five overs.

“No complaints, the better team won.”