BRIXHAM gave North Devon a scare before slipping to a four-wicket defeat at Boundary Park.

The signs didn’t look good for Brixham after they slumped from 101 for two to 116 all out – Max Curtis (pictured) taking five for 17 having ditched leg-spin for medium pace at the request of his skipper.

“We have been one seamer light so Max had been working on his seamers, “ said North Devon captain Barney Huxtable.

“Max was given an opportunity to bowl and took it. Genuinely bowled well, beating the edge many times.”

North Devon then nosedived to 65 for five in reply – Corné Dry (2-27) and Stephen George (3-29) doing the damage – and at that point it was game on.

Opener Tom Ansell was still there though and his stand of 46 with former Torquay batter Ed Yeo (29) stopped the rot.

When Yeo got out to George the target was down to six to win and the game over as a contest.

“On a bowler-friendly wicket, 115 was actually a pretty decent score,” said Huxtable.

“Brixham bowled well at the start and we had a little wobble but Tom Ansell ground out a match-winning innings showing great character and grit.

“Ed Yeo played a very important role, coming in at a hard time.”

For Brixham skipper Andy Pugh, who top scored on 30, there were signs of an improvement after the 10-wicket pasting at Torquay the week before.

“We were a lot more competive and bowled very well on a slow wicket,” said Pugh.

“We just need to learn to bat all 50 overs because an extras 40-50 runs could prove vital.”

It would be hard to argue wit Pugh’s assessment of events as Brixham’s batting performed a disappearing act after a promising start.

Tim Robinson (15) and Jake Lawrence (24) put on 34 for openers, then Pugh and Dry (20) moved things on to 101 for four.

Seven wickets lost for 15 runs scored isn’t acceptable in Premier cricket and Pugh is right to call for an improvement.