ASHLEY Causey dragged Bovey Tracey out of the mire and put them on course for a two-wicket win over North Devon.
Bovey’s run chase was in all sorts of trouble at 99 for seven in reply to North Devon’s 185 for eight.
Realistically, Bovey were one lost wicket away from defeat and potentially dropping into the bottom three.
Causey, called up from the second team, went in when Bovey were 61 for four and decided to stay put.
The bottom half of the order all kept an end up while Causey chipped away the deficit from the other end on his way to match-winning 59 not out.
Brother Bradley Causey was in at the end with Ashley when the post was passed in the 47th over.
All three teams below Bovey lost in the latest round of fixtures, which means they have a 26-point cushion to take into the second half of the season.
Relieved skipper Toby Codd said: “It was a massive win for us.
“Going into at half way with four wins is something we would've settled for after losing our first three games
“Ash Causey played an unbelievable knock for a lad of his age.
“He's been our find of the season so far and looks a real prospect for the future.
“Still a lot of areas to improve on. We probably let them get 50 too many as our fielding once again was sloppy in places.”
North Devon did well to reach 185 for eight considering they were 84 for six and 100 for seven after a battering from Codd (4-33).
An eighth-wicket stand of 60 between Steffan James (44) and skipper Matt Westaway (28) gave the North Devon bowlers something to defend.
Bovey were soon in trouble against North Devon as Josh King and Rikki Kelly got among them, Take Peter Bradley’s 20 out of 42 for three and there wasn’t much from the rest.
Causey showed the composure needed to get Bovey over the line.
