BIDEFORD’S situation in the A Division basement remains dire but salvageable after an 11-run defeat by Paignton.
Paignton recovered from 115 for seven to make 205 all out thanks to a knock of 61 down the order from Luke Medlock.
Bideford were in a good place on the chase at 140 for two, but a middle-order stumble to 170 for seven changed the tempo. The overs ran out on Bideford when they were 194 for eight.
It was far from doom and gloom at Westward Ho! – far from it. Every other team in the bottom four lost to Bideford are no worse off than they were.
And giving third-placed Paignton a run for their money will encourage Bideford for the tough battles ahead, which start with leaders Torquay at the Recreation Ground this Saturday.
Kevin Renecke (30) and Richard Ashworth (50) were Paignton’s primary run getters as they got to 92 for two.
Josh Atkinson (2-27) and Jamie Lathwell (4-29) were largely responsible for Paignton losing five wickets for 23 runs. Medlock – nine four, two sixes – proved the man of the moment for the visitors.
James Ford (56) and Tom Brend (45) gave Bideford a start before wickets started to fall.
Once Ford fell to Rob Shergold (2-21) at 164 for six, the odds swung heavily towards a Paignton win.
Shergold, Medlock and Cole Harford all took two wickets each for Paignton.
