Seaton IIs (115/8) lost to Sidbury (116/3) by 7 wickets

On Thursday, Seaton 2nd XI traversed the A3052 flats to play Sidbury in the first round of the Tidball Cup, the latter attempting to make it to finals day at the fifth time of trying.

Seaton won the toss and chose to bat, denying themselves an insight into the idiosyncrasies of The Millfield pitch.

More than once, an opener held a pose before realising they'd earned not four but one.

Damien Armes and Alex Paget opened the bowling and were begrudging of willow runs but offered wides for relief.

It seemed the Seaton openers had seen them off but captain Mike Wheeler was bowled with the last ball of the powerplay.

Olly Paget and Arran De Moubray stepped in for the middle overs and bowled well despite Seaton making some useful strides towards a competitive total.

The latter took a superb catch from a brutally hit pull off the former but the good young batters kept coming.

Steve Crick and Ed Chester came into the attack and the balance between bat and ball remained equal.

The returning Armes picked up a wicket through another excellent, this time diving, De Moubray catch and Seaton's innings came to rest at a challenging 115 for 8 (with 19 wides), worth about 30 more on even a modestly paced outfield. 

Sidbury sent it two whippets famed for their running and this tactical masterpiece quickly culminated in Sidbury's fastest dog, Steve Howe, running himself out, without scoring, from the second ball of the innings.

No fear, man of the match Ryan (Rhino) Trawford, strode to the crease and bullied Paget into unhitching his caravan.

Paget departed for a useful 20 - all run apart from a solitary four - before Trawford ended the game as a contest with two huge sixes over square leg and well into Millenium Green and another into The Mill.

Sidbury won by 7 wickets with 4 overs to spare and will play Clyst St George or Topsham in the quarter final.