BRADNINCH are still looking for their first league win of the season after going down by three wickets to Sidmouth.

Matt Foster’s bad back may have stopped him bowling, but didn’t stop him slapping a quickfire century in Bradninch’s 243 for five.

Sidmouth’s target was revised down after a break for rain and half centuries from two of the Bess brothers wrapped up a comfortable win.

Josh Bess made 62 and Zak Bess hit a run-a-ball 73. Luke Bess missed out; he was out for five.

Bradninch skipper Gary Chappell said there wasn’t much between the sides, other than in the bowling attack. His was without Ross Acton and Foster.

“Another 25-30 runs would have made it closer and perhaps we would have won, but that’s hard to say,” said Chappell.

We performed very well and put a good side to the test.

“The Bess brothers played very well and ultimately we were a seamer light.”

Chappell (33) and Dan Hardy (20) were Bradninch’s early run scorers after Mark Ashplant went for none to Scott Barlow (2-58).

Foster went in at 63 for two and, once Chappell went, struck up a partnership with Tim Piper that put on 147 for the fourth wicket.

Piper came off second best when he chanced his arm against Josh Bess in the field and was run-out for 55.

Foster – eight sixes and six fours in 93 balls faced – batted through to the end.

The Bess brothers came together at 33 for two with Matt Cooke and Luke Bess back in the hut and put on exactly 100 in 13 overs.

The stand ended when Josh Bess fell for 62.

Zak Bess batted to the finish, taking sizeable chunks out of the deficit with Nick Gingell (23) and Nick Mansfield.

Matt Parker’s two for 30 was as good as it got for Bradninch when the bowled.

Although Bowling is an issue for Chappell, ex-Whimple youngster Parker is doing the right things in his first Premier season.

 “Parker is a very promising young bowler and has good control,” said Chappell.

“He will do well for us if he continues to bowl how he has been.”

On the Foster injury situation, Chappell said: “Hard to say when he will be fit to bowl.

 “It is a situation we are playing by ear as we don't want to rush him back and worsen the injury.”

Chappell said Acton will be back for the trip to North Devon this Saturday.

For Sidmouth skipper Luke Bess it was important to get back to winning ways after the seven-wicket defeat by Paignton on day one.

“We had to bowl well on a ground that is hard to defend while I would have been happier with 20-30 fewer to chase we did ok,” said Bess.

“Josh and Zak did the hard work when we batted before we had a little wobble.

“As long as Zak was there I was always confident we would get the runs and he batted in a more controlled way to ensure we did as he appreciated the situation we were in.”