BIDEFORD pulled off the shock of the day in the A Division to give their survival hopes a massive boost.
Third-placed Cornwood would have expected to beat third-bottom Bideford, not lose to them by 70 runs.
But that’s exactly how it panned out with Bideford picking up a win that moves them 14 points clear of the relegation places.
With 20 to play for at doomed Chudleigh this Saturday, Bideford are just about safe.
Defeat left Cornwood’s promotion hopes in tatters.
The Corns were hoping to go into their last-day date with long-time leaders Torquay in with mathematical chance of overhauling either them or Paignton for a promotion slot.
Plympton did Cornwood a huge favour by beating Torquay, which knocked them off top spot and let Paignton get ahead of them.
Sadly Cornwood did themselves no favours by being bowled out for 107 chasing 178 to win at Westward Ho!
The gap between Cornwood in third and Torquay in second is 19 points with 20 to play for. It is hard to see how Torquay can’t get the two points they need on the last day, irrespective off the result.
It looks like third place for the second year running for Cornwood, who can only reflect on the fine margins that make or break a season.
They have lost fewer games than Torquay – 12 plays 13 in that column – but have missed out on batting and bowling bonus points in the games they have won.
Bideford made 177 for nine in the full 50 overs.
Their batting was steady most of the way through with useful contributions from Ollie Hannam (29), James Ford (42) and Fred King (29).
Elliott Staddon (2-34) and Mo Salman (3-24) led the bowling effort for Cornwood.
The game got away from Cornwood in the time it took to dip from 50 for two, when Aaron Richards (28) got out, to 69 for six.
No one else made more than 14 as Jack Ford (2-20) and Martin Stewart (2-15) finished what Paul Heard (2-24) and Jamie Lathwell (2-20) had started.
Happy skipper Paul Heard said: “What a fantastic result for us.
“We played in a way that was both impressive and frustrating that we haven't done it more this season.
“Batters set a target that gave us a chance but still seemed slightly short but bowlers were superb and we took all our chances.”
