BIDEFORD came up short on the chase by 10 runs in a rain-affected meeting with Clyst St George.

The villagers made 262 for nine in their full 45 overs with opener Chris Ferro (65no) and Andy Donovan (95) tucking into the Bideford bowling in different ways.

Ferro (116 balls, nine fours, lots of dots) took his time while Donovan pummelled 14 fours and two sixes during his 78-ball stay.

After Donovan and Ferro’s stand of 154 had been broken by James Roe, Ronaldo Callender (20) and Harry Attwater (23) kept the board ticking over.

Bideford captain Tom Brend tried eight bowlers in search of wickets. Only Alex Hannam (2-20) and James Hayter (2-25) took more than one.

Bideford lost 10 overs batting time due to a rain interlude after they went and that brought their target down to 204 to win.

Having been in a commanding position at 110 for one before it rained – Hayter (58), Tom Brend (34) and Ollie Hannam (47) making contributions – the situation changed after the restart.

Fifty to win from the last five overs was too many, even with six wickets in hand, although they gave it a go and got it down 13 from the final over bowled by paceman Donovan. He took two wickets to win that particular battle.

Donovan had three wickets for 18 runs and Ollie Manning (3-55) had three more as Bideford closed on 194 for eight.

Brend, the losing captain, felt Bideford were short on luck but did not help themselves either.

“We were well set with only one wicket down when it rained and made our job a hell of a lot harder,” said Brend.

“We weren't helped by some below-par bowling and 30-plus wides which, at this level, is inexcusable. 

“Plenty to take away from it but, overall, I felt the bowling and the rain probably cost us.”

Having lost by a similar margin to Bovey Tracey last time out, Clyst captain Dan Kendall was delighted to come out on the right side of a close game.

Said Kendall: “An excellent partnership between Andy and Chris, with good support from Harry Attwater late on, set us up for a competitive total. 

“Bideford's top three are the strongest we've seen this year and very accomplished players. 

“We held our nerve with the ball and in the field after the rain break, as we knew with nine wickets in hand Clyst would come at us hard.”