IVYBRIDGE took an important step towards safety in the A Division when the defeated Abbotskerswell by seven wickets.

Ivybridge were rock bottom going into the game and already 11 points behind Abbots immediately above them. In a division with two relegation places, it would have been a bad one to lose.

Victory has taken Ivybridge off the bottom of the table and installed Abbots as the new tenants in the cellar.

And safety is only three points away thanks to Cornwood beating Bideford to plunge them into more danger.

Abbots, who opted to bat first, were all out for 112 in the 41st over. Charlie Dowling, who went in at 28 for four after a pasting from Dinesh Raheja (2-22) and Josh Coker (3-37), top scored on 36.

Once Dowling went it was downhill all the way as Adam Huxtable (2-14) and Harry Solomon (2-9) got to work.

An 88-run opening stand between Huxtable (44) and Harvey Johnson (33) put Ivybridge on the road to victory.

"We performed well in all three areas," said Ivybridge captain Harry Solomon.

"We have wo big games over the next couple weeks (Plympton and Bideford) to keep focused on

For Abbots' skipper Nick Watkin it was a huge let down after the win over Barton seven days earlier.

“We should be bitterly disappointed with our performance after a good win the week before,” said Watkin.

“The same problems that have engulfed our season re-emerged.

“We batted exceedingly poorly and poor shot selection meant we didn't bat our overs, again.

“We bowled too many four balls and fielding-wise we dropped catches, miss-fielded far too many times especially considering we were defending 112. 

“Back to the drawing board and expect a reaction and better performance against Cornwood next.”