BRIXHAM won for the first time this season when they chased to the end to beat Bideford by one wicket at Westward Ho!

Paul Heard top scored with 50, and Tom Brend made 47, in Bideford’s total of 201 all-out.

Opener Brend made 47 of the first 87 on the board and when he went Heard became the fulcrum the middle order batted round until Abdul Muzammil (4-30) inevitably got them out.

Heard was ninth out on 199, spun away by Mike Barron. His 50 came off 51 balls and included four fours, the same number of sixes and a lot of dots!

Brixham hurtled to 123 for three in reply, wobbled from 155 for four to 177 for eight and stumbled over the line with five balls to go and their last pair at the wicket.

By the time Brixham lost Tom Hopper (50) at 112 for three, Andy Pugh (21) and Muzammil (26) had already gone.

Tim Robinson (28) and Adam Edwards (20) got the score up to 177 for eight, at which point Bideford could see a win themselves.

James Ford took out Dan Bullock at 190 for nine, which last pair Connor Ashworth and Tom Stephenson to make 12 to win. Ashworth (15no) got the majority of them.

The result lifted Brixham out of the bottom two – Ivybridge have taken their place – and left Bideford in need of a win against Abbotskerswell this Saturday to avoid slipping into any more trouble.

Relieved Brxham skipper Mark Orchard said: “It was a very good win which was much deserved. 

“We have had a few hard weeks and the team have stayed together and pulled through for a win. 

“All 11 contributed in some way and that'll stand us in good stead moving forward.”

Bideford skipper Heard said it wasn’t hard to work out where it went wrong.

“We have only got ourselves to blame for the loss,” said Heard.

“The common theme of not batting out the overs cost us again. 

“Spinners, Jack Ford (2-36), James Ford (4-25) and Martin Stewart did exceptionally to get us back in the game, but Brixham held their nerve.”

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