BRADNINCH defeated Hatherleigh by 52 runs to move ahead of Sandford and Plymouth and out of the Premier Division bottom two.
Openers Tim Piper (25) and Rory Thomas (62) gave Bradninch a 76-run start – Thomas the man out - and from there the total grew to 245 all out.
There was no greater stand in the match than the opening one, but lots of chip- ins right the way down.
Gary Chappell found some form with 32, Charlie Walker hit 31 and down at nine and 10 there were for Will Greig (30) and Tallan Burns (21).
Mark Lake was the outstanding bowler for Hatherleigh with figures of five for 38 not that there was anything shabby about Dan Fogerty’s two for 44 or Imran Philander’s two for 29.
Hatherleigh set off in pursuit with openers Dan Forrester (50) and Rob Fishleigh (56) putting on 69.
Fishleigh was third out on a hundred – one of three wickets for Chappell – which left Gareth Tidball (26) and Ryan Davies to continue the chase.
Tidball’s demise at 162 for four proved the beginning of the end for Hatherleigh.
Davies went three runs later to Chappell and from then on it was downhill all the way to 193 all out. Tendal Maruma (4-44) sniped off the stragglers.
Victory lifts Bradninch four points clear of the drop spots with second-placed Exeter to play this Saturday.
Winning skipper Chappell said: “It was a much-needed win and hopefully it gives us some momentum going forward.
“It was a real team effort with everyone chipping in.
“Rory Thomas played well at the top to get us off to a flyer and the lower order got us to a decent score after a bit of a wobble.
“Hatherleigh batted well at the start with some luck, but there wasn't much depth and we knew we were only a wicket or two away from killing the game.”
Defeated skipper Lake saw a slightly different game to his Bradninch counterpart.
“It was a game we could have won, but with their attack on a wicket that took a lot of turn 240 was too many,” said Lake.
“In hindsight I would have batted first, but there were lots of positives to take.”
