THORVERTON will be playing for their B Division survival this Saturday when the visit Tavistock.

Thors had the chance to make themselves safe last time out when they met fellow strugglers South Devon at Station Road,

South Devon were already 23 points behind Thorverton and had they lost it would have been curtains for them.

Thorverton lost by three wickets – South Devon chasing 158 to win and getting there with a ball to spare – which sent the survival fight into the final round of fixtures.

South Devon remain in the third relegation place – Dartington and Braunton are both gonners – but Thorverton are only 11 points ahead of them now.

Thorverton will go down if they lose at Tavistock and great escapologists South Devon beat Shobrooke Park. This time last year they beat Braunton on the last day to dodge the drop.

Thorverton skipper Dave Baldock said there was no point dwelling on the defeat by South Devon as that wasn’t the reason his side is under threat.

“We were extremely poor in the first half of the season and only a little bit better since then,” said Baldock.

“We are we are because we have only won six games all season.

“Yes there is pressure on us, but I would rather be in our position than South Devon’s.

“We can save ourselves by winning, they have to win and hope we lose, otherwise it makes no difference.”

Thorverton made 157 for nine in 45 overs – James Hope leading the way with 41.

Plenty of Thorverton batters got in, got set and got out without getting into the 20s, among them Paul Fielder, James Khan and Adrianne Morrison.

South Devon spinner James Allen took four Thorverton wickets for 36 runs – among the Baldock for one – and James Kitto took three for 22.

South Devon’s run chase was anchored by Divan Marais, whose 78 was the difference between winning and losing.

Marais got South Devon up to 140 then Hope (3-16) prised him out.

South Devon took it steady as she goes for the last six overs, skipper Jon Martin (13) and Cameron Fogden (13no) bagging the result.