THREE wickets each for Craig James and Matt Tamsett ensured table-topping Cornwood defeated lowly Bideford by 88 runs.

Opener Ryan Rickard top scored with 64 for Cornwood as they posted 243 all out in the last of their 50 overs.

Rickard was third out on 142 having seen Ben Beaumont come and go for a sprightly 45.

Elliott Staddon (27), Matt Skeemer (25) and James (21) all chipped in to the final total.

Alex Hannam (3-43) and Jack Ford (3-50) took what bowling honours were going for Bideford.

Take out the 50 extras Cornwood gave away when Bideford batted, 39 of them wides, there was not a lot to report in an all-out total of 155.

Ben Perry made 52 and the next best was James Ford’s 19 off 44 balls.

Tamsett had Perry in his three-for-33 haul. James (3-10) ran through the stragglers.

Cornwood skipper Skeemer said: “Very happy with how we batted as a unit. 

“Bideford made it hard work to take wickets, but we stuck at it and did well to take 10 on a good track in the end.”

Cornwood hold a five-point lead over Bradninch at the top of the table.

Tom Brend, the Bideford captain, said it may have been another loss but it was better than the previous defeat by Tavistock.

We played much better and stuck at it well for our 50 overs in the field,” said Brend.

“Our batting was also much better. We played with freedom but in the end fell short.”

Bideford have sunk within two points of the relegation places as other results did them no favours.