HATHERLEIGH captain Mark Lake confessed his side probably used up a get-out-of-jail card in the 24-run win over Chudleigh.

No one made more than Chris Jelley’s 37 as Hatherleigh were bowled out for 156 in the last of their 50 overs.

Chudleigh’s Ben Holmes had three wickets and there were three more for Rob Clarke.

Chudlegh were 99 for one in reply with Mark Solway (33) and Matt Heather (51) going well.

Home skipper Mark Lake spun out Solway, Jelly snared Heather and from then the slide was on.

No one reached double figures again as Chudleigh were all out for 132 with more than four overs to go.

“It was a  game we pulled out the fire,” said Lake.

“At 90 or one they looked home and dry. We were 50 short with the bat.

“In my eyes it was a bonus win from an average performance with both bat and ball.”

Holmes accounted for both Hatherleigh openers – veteran Ross Cherrington after he batted 65 balls for 16 – and Matt Heather had Jelley on his way to a three-for17 haul.

Clarke (3-19) got into the middle order, but Charlie Nielson’s 25 after coming in at 118 for six proved crucial.

Other than losing overseas batter Corey Sinclair at 15, Chudleigh were going along nicely to Solway then Heather went.

Five wickets went for 14 runs –Jelly (3-21), Cherrington (3-19) and Lake (2-26) doing the damage and it was downhill all the way then.

For Chudleigh skipper Ed Foreman there were lessons to be learned

“It was definitely a game that got away from us,” said Foreman.

“We were in such a strong position with only a quarter of the game to go and we forgot how to bat.

“Our bowling and fielding were impressive.

“We took the 10 chances we created which is a positive as we do not want to have to create 14 or 15 chances to bowl a team out.

“I am confident if we are in that position again this year then we will win more than we lose.”