By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

SIDMOUTH saw off a determined challenge from Plymouth to win by 54 runs at Mount Wise and book their ticket to the DCL Premier play-off final.

Zak Bess clattered 97 off 80 balls – six sixes, eight fours – and Alex Barrow made a patient 65 as Sidmouth hoisted an impressive 281 for six in their 45 overs.

Plymouth appeared to have everything to do at 78 for four in reply with opener James Degg just out for 36.

Half centuries from Hal Kerton and Dan Goodey changed the complexion of the game and it was only when Goodey was eighth out on 212 that Sidmouth could feel comfortable.

Jon Varcoe, the Plymouth captain, said: "The Sidmouth top four batted well and punished anything short.

"We put up a good fight wth the bat and it was great to see Hal and Dan get scores."

Waiting for Sidmouth in next Saturday’s final are Heathcoat, who beat Bradninch in the other semi-final. 

Barrow, the Devon county captain, opened for Sidmouth and was involved in stands totalling 173 before he was third out to Kerton.

Bess was the dominant partner in a partnership of 105 for the third wicket with Barrow.

Luke Bess (29), Dylan Hurst (20) and Nick Mansfield (25) all chipped in. Five bowlers took a wicket each for Plymouth. Wicketless Sam Stein (0-34) was the only bowler to cost fewer than four runs an over.

Plymouth slipped from 48 for two to 88 for four on the chase and were rescued a first time by Kerton with 59 at better than run-a-ball rate.

Two wickets for Ollie Pugsley (2-23) and one for Jordan Fowler (3-45) slowed Plymouth to 158 for seven. Then Goodey got hold of the bowling. His 58 off 43 balls brought the game back to life.

Luke Bess is not a frequent bowler in Premier cricket but when brother Zak deployed him as a hoped-for partnership breaker he got Goodey out second ball.

With Goodey out of the way it was a straightforward business for Luke Bess to knock over the last two wickets to finish with three for 26.

HEATHCOAT are on course for a play-off final showdown with Sidmouth this Saturday after brushing past Bradninch by five wickets in the Premier Tier semi-finals.

Spinner jack Menheneott took four wickets for 17 runs, and there were two each for Matt Hague and Jamie Drew, as Bradninch were bowled out for 122 with more than five overs to go.

Mitch Pugh, who went in first wicket down at the end of the second over, made a top score of 50 for Bradninch.

Heathcoat opener Toby Lochead proved the decision to promote him from the second team to cover for the absent Rob Holman was the right one by hitting a top score of 60.

No one else made more than 14 – they did not have to – as Lochead took Heathcoat within 19 runs of victory before he was removed by Pugh.

Pete Randerson, the Heathcoat captain, described it as: “A good, solid performance.”

Randerson added: “We bowled brilliantly and made it really hard to score, then made steady progress with the bat."

Losing captain Eliot Acton said he had no complaints about losing to a ‘better team on the day’.

Acton added: “We would have liked another 30-40 runs to be competitive, but Heathcoat bowled and fielded really well and made it tough throughout.

“We managed to get into the game after the first wicket fell, but a 50 opening stand in the context of the game was pretty defining. Ultimately we had too much to do after that. 

“I was pleased to show some fight against a good outfit and we ended the season feeling like it's been a half decent one.”