Jay Bista – a ton for Cornwood in their win over Sidmouth<br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe

JAY Bista made Sidmouth pay a high price for dropping him in single figures by belting an unbeaten 182 to see Cornwood to an eight-wicket win in the Premier Division.

Codi Yusuf took the Cornwood bowling for 116 of 92 balls as Sidmouth racked-up 291 for five in their full 50 overs. 

Yusuf warmed-up during a fourth-wicket stand of 72 with Taylor Ingham-Hill (66) then went to town while adding 128 for the fifth wicket with Henry Armstrong (40).

Lee Baker was clouted for 15 in one over by the Sidmouth pair, Elliott Staddon went for 16 and Harry Woolway was taken for 18 as the stand gathered pace.

Anything Yusuf could do Bista could do better – as he showed during a batting masterclass that had Sidmouth’s fielders chasing leather all round the Fortfield.

Bista opened up with Max Finzel and their stand of 210 laid the foundations for a Cornwood win.Max Finzel – shared a stand of 210 with Jay Bista

Finzel went for 77 – lbw to spinner Charlie Miles – and Ryan Rickard was on and out for four as 210 for none became 227 for two.

Ben Beaumont propped up one end while Bista took care of winning the game at the other. Bista clouted 20 fours and six sixes from the 125 balls he faced. The final six off Miles won it with more than six overs to go.

Tom Simmons went for 20 in an over to Bista, Miles had one for 12 and another for 17 to Bista and Beaumont and Jordan Fowler stood down after Finzel and Bista took him for 14.

Staddon, the Cornwood captain, said: “It was a pleasure to watch someone like Jay Bista when he plays in that fashion.

“A flat pitch and lightning outfield made for a batters’ day, but we were always more confident chasing a total as defending a score in those conditions was always going to be so challenging.

“Jay will take the plaudits, but Max Finzel's 77 with him was superb and the opening stand of 210 was amazing to watch.”

Three wins in a row have taken Cornwood up to fourth in the table going into the last third of the season.

Staddon is saying nothing about a late tilt for the title. “We will just look to continue our form and keep enjoying our cricket as a team,” he said.

Luke Bess, the Sidmouth skipper, felt his team were partly responsible for their own downfall.

“It was very disappointing not to defend 290, but when you drop the pro three times, including when he was on eight, you aren't going to win.”