Harry Everett reports on the F Division East with help from Alex Paget at this sunny June scene:

Second placed Sidbury crossed the Otter to face top-of-the-table Exeter IIIs at the picturesque Winslade Manor (pictured). The weather was hot, the changing rooms were cramped, the result held season-shaping significance. Sidbury lost the toss and were put into bat.

There are good times and bad times to play Exeter; by this point in June most of the students have gone home. Nevertheless, the club still boasted Brazilian international Laura Cardoso, whose eight-over spell caused Sidbury problems and whose fielding at backward point exuded a menace not typically seen in Devon East Division F. 

Regular Devon Dumpling off-spinner Sangeeth Sohan (20-2) also bowled with accuracy and threat. Sidbury opener Simon Rowe took all this in his experienced stride, posting another forty-something - his third in a row - before committing the cardinal sin of getting out first ball after drinks, seconds after the captain urged him to keep in mind the cold hard statistics on the high proportion of batsmen that perish the first ball after drinks. 

Still, a platform was laid of 108-4 when Paget Brothers Inc. arrived together at the crease, their collective composure still recovering from the mid-week calamity of allowing Upottery six overthrows in the same fielding sequence, three per brother, the inquest into which rolls into its second week. And nor is this the only inquest sitting on Chairman Chris Fitzhenry's desk: in-form number five Josh Reed sent back amidships, galloping a chancy run to the international fielder at backward point. This aside there was to be no more joy for Exeter who spent the last 18 overs chasing leather in the hot sun. Oliver hit a chanceless 90* and Alex bashed 56, denting his average with the very last ball of the innings. 

With an imposing 252 posted the visitors' thoughts were turning to the Balearic chill-out vibes on Winslade's inviting sun-trap table-service terrace. Prematurely, for the league leaders were not beaten, feasting upon Soren Hall's opening spell like a Devon cricketer stumbling upon an away ground tea. 

Richard Golsworthy (no not spelt the same nor related to the Cornwall/Somerset batters) blasted six fours and two sixes to keep Exeter well ahead of the required rate. Things were a little in the balance. But Alex Paget shuffled the pack, the team held its nerve, and first change Rowe bowled one opener (45-1), then another (85-2), and in the blink of an eye had spun five of the top six into his web (5-24), his last wicket well-held low in the covers by Hall. 

That was pretty much that, leaving only time for club mascot Sam Sanders (3-10) to hoover up the tail, supported by a tidy spell from league debutant Archie Rowe at the other end. Exeter squeaked a fourth batting point en-route to 163 all out. 

Sidbury remain second, one point behind Exeter, with the wind very much in their sails.