THORVERTON lost by two runs in a photo finish at home to promotion chasers Ivybridge.

The Bridge were all out for 193 on the 42nd of their 45 overs – Jeewan De Silva hitting a top score of 54.

Ivybridge needed some rescuing after slumping from 44 for one to 45 for four with Jake Zimmerrman (21) among the casualties.

The damage was done by Adriene Morrison (3-31) and lanky left-armer Gill Crouch (3-15).

De Silva and Alfie Huxtable (18) put on 39 then former skipper Gareht Andrews made a breezy 26 in a sixth wicket stand of 44.  Current captain Kelvin Trent was next best on 19.

Jake Choules had three Ivybridge wickets for 32 runs – Da Silva among them – before Morrison and Crouch finished off the tail-enders.

Thorverton’s chase was led by opener George Greed who made 79 in 39 overs out in the middle.

There were 50-plus stands with Jamie Khan (22) and Paul Fielder (19) as the target was chipped away.

Eighty-four to win off 20 overs with seven wickets left looked gettable for Thorverton, but De Silva saw it differently. His nine overs for 17 runs – and he got Greed out – proved decisive.

Although Jamie Maxwell (16), Andy Pitt (10) and the Crouch brothers with a  brace of 10s had a go, 30 to win of the last four overs was fractionally too many and Thors finished on 191 for eight.

Thorverton remain in the bottom two with Bideford (4th) to play this Saturday.

The good news is they gained ground on South Devon and Braunton above them, both of whom lost badly.

Paul Fielder, standing in for absent captain Dave Baldock, said minor changes could make a major difference for Thors in the fight to stay up.

“Losing the toss again was the first issue,” said Fielder.

“It would be really nice if we won one this season and had the choice to do what we would like.

“Saying that, restricting Ivybridge to 193 was a good performances with the ball.

“The biggest problem was the 34 extras we gave them as it would have been a totally different game if we were chasing 170 odd.

“George Greed again batted well for his 79 and at 100 for twi with 22 to go I felt we were in a strong position.

“We just couldn't get a nice partnership with George, which would have got over the line.

“Small margins to improve on.”