IVYBRIDGE have fallen further adrift at the bottom of the A Division following a 69-run defeat in the basement clash at Barton.

Something had to give at Cricketfield Road as both sides had lost six in a row.

Barton recovered from six for three – Josh Coker (3-41) doing the damage – to reach 161 all out.

George Northcott (37) and skipper Adam Parker (33) started the fightback by putting on 69 then Adam Last made 40 on a rare 1st XI appearance as the total mounted.

Adam Huxtable (2-20) and Harry Solomon (2-20) bowled carbon-copy 10-over spells to keep Barton under control.

Ivybridge were 28 for three with Zimbabwean batter Dudu Zondo among the casualties.

Dinesh Raheja did a professional job trying to hold the middle order together – he made 30 off 64 balls – but worthwhile support was hard to find.

Coker  (10) and Chris Greenhouse (11) batted time in search of bonus points, but once Dinesh was sixth out on 74 it was downhill to 92 all out.

Matt Crampton’s six-for-19 haul put the skids under Ivybridge.

Barton are still in the bottom two, but the deficit is only two points and captain Adam Parker feels the team is moving in the right direction at last.

“It is a massive relief to get the season under way,” said Parker.

“Things weren't perfect but we grafted and got the win, which is what we have been missing so far.

“Just need to build on it now and continue to play good cricket each week.”