By STEVE BIRLEY & CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

OPENER Alex Barrow carried his bat as Sidmouth chalked up a four-wicket win at Exmouth in Premier East.

Barrow made 92 not out off exactly 100 balls – eight fours, one six – as Sidmouth chased 207 to win and got them with more than seven of their 45 overs to go.

But it could easily have been a different story had Exmouth’s catching been up to the mark.

The current Devon captain and former Somerset professional was put down on 33 and Exmouth were left to regret that lapse.

“You can't afford to drop Barrow and expect to win the game if you are 40 runs under a par score,” said rueful Exmouth captain Andy Buzza.

Exmouth recovered from losing Rory Thomas early and got to 101 before Ollie Pugsley dismissed Louis Morison (46).

wickets fell at regular intervals in an all-out total of 206 in the last of their 45 overs.

Pugsley finished with figures of 4-50 from eight overs, one of which was top scorer James Horler (63). Zac Bess (3-38) was also amongst the wickets.

Sidmouth were a wobbly 44 for three at one stage and would have been in deep trouble had Barrow not survived.

Byron Knowles (37) and Barrow added 81 before Knowles became the fourth man down with the score then 125 for four.

Dylan Hurst did not last long, but a stand of 66 between Barrow and Cameron Grainger (27) ended the game as contest.

Matt Tarry and Alex Craib had two wickets each for Exmouth.

For Exmouth captain Buzza it was a case of could and should have done better.

“Horler and Morison set up our innings perfectly yet we failed to push on and capitalise on the start,” said Buzza.
“Early wickets put us in a prime position, yet we struggled taking the one that really mattered.

“There were more positives than negatives for us and in my opinion a game that we could and potentially should have won.”

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