Sidbury CC had a busy week filled with several events and dramatic games.

Last Friday, the club held their first Supporters' Club draw, in which Caitlin Astley-Jones won £50, followed by Jasper Fitzhenry with £20, and last but not least, Alex Paget with £20.

On Wednesday evening, Sidbury Moles welcomed the Ottery Rising Super Beavers for their first game of the East Devon T20 round-robin- report by Olly Paget.

The Ottery Rising Super Beavers, upon winning the toss, chose to bat.

Although there were a few overthrows and byes, Sidbury Moles' decent defence with a solid field and bowl, an exceptional performance by the Beavers' opener resulted in a total of 173/3 in twenty overs.

A good total, but gettable at 8.6/over, The Ottery opening bowlers were feisty, however, Mark Bishop bowled early and Adam Drinkwater watched a few whiz by outside off before holing out, leaving Sidbury a daunting 150 required off 14.5 overs.

The game continued with reverse fortune as Mark Smallacombe and Olly Paget took the total to 137 off 16 before being outlasted.

Tensions escalated as the match proceeded towards a tough target of 37 runs needed off 3.5 overs with fading light.

Despite the morale boost from T20 specialist Alex Paget and Smallacombe, the Beavers showed determination with smart bowling and fielding tactics.

The result was 20 runs short of the victory mark for Sidbury.

It was a good effort against a very capable opposition.

The following day, an enjoyable match between Sidbury and Not The MCC took place.

Despite the lack of a scorecard, the visiting team overcame Sidbury's 152ish off the very last ball, in the gloaming.

When the match ended it was dark, before all packed up and went home.

The cricket-filled week continued with a match between Sidbury and Alphington & Countess Wear (ACW) on Saturday, with ACW emerging victorious with a striking lead of 124 runs, reported by Arran De Moubray.

Sidbury's first team welcomed ACW to the picturesque Millfield, which despite the morning rain was dry - "a road", they cried, and not a pothole in sight.

Skipper Alex Paget won the toss and put the visitors into bat, assuming his bowling-heavy, batting-light team would see them off.

One set of openers flourished in the first ten overs, but sadly it wasn't the bowlers this week.

Paget and Arran de Moubray reined it in a little and 51-0 after 8 became 93/1 at drinks, partly thanks to the in-form overseas opener falling on his sword in a running mix-up with the keeper, who rode his luck a little, but went on to score what should have been a match-winning 63, including a couple of towering sixes into the wetlands next door, if only the game had been tight.

Simon Rowe bowled well and it was left to the lower order to push and edge the score to near 200.

Tea is always a delight Sidbury prides itself on, and today was no different - a whole raft of offerings, savoury and sweet were available.

Despite Sidbury's best efforts with Alex Paget striking balls into the stream, the day ended in disappointment with Sidbury’s defeat at 73 all out and the score was marked as a cluster of ducks, totalling six.

This was a day for the ducks: Six of them joined the flock, leaving the team on a raft with no paddles - or even bats.

Regardless of the crushing defeat, Sidbury's team spirit remained intact as they enjoyed the rest of the day in the warm sun with cider, looking forward to the next game with a renewed spirit.

Closing on an optimistic note, the team hoped that next week they would be back, if selected, reminding us that in cricket, every setback is a setup for a comeback.