BRAUNTON moved closer to safety in the B Division when they defeated visiting Shobrooke Park by 76 runs.

Braunton made 261 for four in their 45 overs – opener Rob Collier batting through for an unbeaten 107.

Shobrooke were 185 for nine when their overs ran out, Jacques Budricks top scoring for them with 60 not out.

In a division with three relegation spots, Braunton are only five points from safety now.

Saturday’s match with fellow strugglers Thorverton is a chance to clamber out of the bottom three as they are the next team above Braunton..

Shobrooke made a dream start at Kelsey where Dan Robbins bowled Alfie Huxtable in the first over.

Collier and former Devon batsman Neil Bettis took the score to 73 when Budricks (2-29) struck twice.

Bettis went caught and bowled to Budricks for 36, then Rob Paterson was lbw first ball.

Callum Mitchell survived the hat-trick ball and stayed around for another 79 deliveries to make 91.

Collier and Mitchell were involved in a stand of 188 for the fourth wicket that lasted until the final ball of the innings when Mitchell got out to Phil Anning.

Shobrooke got to 71 for two in reply – Budricks and skipper Chris Simpson (40) making runs – and were 112 for three when Dan Robbins was next out for 18.

Four wickets went for five runs added – Braunton captain Jon Baglow (4-33) taking the lot – and that was Shobrooke’s day ruined.

Budricks kept going and with help from Ben Trenaman (121) earned Shobrooke two more batting points.

Baglow scooped the bowling honours for Braunton. Martin Smith (1-24) and Huxtable (1-34) both bowled tidy spells.

Winning skipper Jon Baglow was chuffed by the way the game went.

“Rob Collier and Callum Mitchell batted really well on a tricky wicket and put on nearly 190 for the fourth wicket,” said Baglow.

“We had some good bowling options this week and took wickets at regular intervals.”

Beaten skipper Simpson was clearly unhappy by the way the game went.

“It was a pretty ordinary display from us,” said Simpson.

“The only highlights were Jacques bowled well and got 60.

“We dropped a few catches, but all in all it was not good enough.”