IVYBRIDGE stay top of the table in the B Division after grinding out a last-over win against relegation worriers South Devon.

Divan Marais hit a top score of 120 not out off 119 balls for South Devon in their total of 186 for seven.

After opener Mark Andrews came and went for 21, South Devon subsided to 68 for five.

James Allen (14) stuck around with Marais to add 76 for the sixth wicket. No other batsmen made double figures for South Devon.

Bowling wise, Harry Solomon bowled nine overs for 16 runs, Paul Veale got through nine for 27 and there were two wickets each for Abraham Kopparambil (2-34) and Jeewan De Silva (2-34).

Ivybridge hauled themselves over the line with five balls to go after being given a big scare getting there.

Kopparambil (21) and Andy Johnson (35) started smartly enough, but the early and middle order caved in against Jon Martin (4-18) and Jonty Tupman (2-36). Allen (1-34) gave little away.

At 89 for five and 114 for six it was nail-chewing time for Ivybridge captain Kelvin Trent. His knight in shinning armour was Solomon, who made 52 not out and shared match-winning stands of 29 with George Thompson and 44 unbroken with Chris Greenhouse (18no)

Ivybridge still have a 17-point lead over second-placed Plymstock, but it could easily have been different,

“We always have close games against South Devon so I wasn’t  surprised by the way it went,” said Trent,

“To win it from the position we were in at 114 for six was really pleasing.

“Harry batted well, but George Thompson and Chris Greenhouse were superb.”