JAY Bista reeled off a second successive Premier Division century as Cornwood crushed long-time leaders North Devon by nine wickets to throw the race for the title wide open.

With Bista stroking an unbeaten 127, Cornwood made the 192 needed to win inside 27 overs.

North Devon (186pts) are still top of the table, but their 18-point lead over the chasing pack is now a thing of the past.

Heathcoat (183) are up from third to second after beating Sidmouth, Cornwood (176) move up one place from fourth to third and Sandford are only three points further behind in fourth despite being turned over by Bradninch.

With 100 points to play for and just 13 between the top four there really is everything to play for in the final month of the season.

North Devon were bowled out for 191 with nine balls unused of their 50-over allocation.

Opener Dan Bowser made 48 and third man in Jack Whittaker top scored with a patient 53.

Whittaker – 119 balls, five fours, lots of dots – was involved in stands worth 99 before he was sixth out with the score on 160. Jack Moore (20) and James Tyson (27) supported Whittaker while he was there. Tom Popham (27) got a few after he went.

Wickets were shared out with three going to Cornwood skipper Elliott Staddon (3-34) and two each to Bista (2-33) and Ben Beaumont (2-39).

Bista picked-up where he left off seven days earlier after cranking-out an undefeated 182 in Cornwood’s eight-wicket win at Sidmouth. He took 16 runs from the first over he faced, bowled by Darren Butler, and dictated the pace of the game from then on.

Spinner George McEndoo came in for the treatment when he went for 23 in an over – 22 of them scored by Bista. Max Finzel started the over with a single.

The end came when Bista launched Josh Atkinson for his sixth and final six.

Bista and Max Finzel (34) hacked away to the first 148 from the target. Ryan Rickard (17) was there with Bista when the winning runs were scored.

Bista has made three league tons and two league half-centuries on the way to 683 runs so far at an average of 85.38.

That’s four wins on the spin now for Cornwood and 76 points out of the last 80 up for grabs.

Looking back on the way the game was won, Staddon said: “We bowled well against a good batting line up and put ourselves in a great position at the half-way stage.

“Another great knock by Jay showed his quality – and another 100-run opening stand made the chase comfortable for us.”

Popham, the losing North Devon captain, said: “We were completely outplayed in all areas of the game from start to finish – congratulations to Cornwood.

“Jay Bista is on a different level to 99 per cent of the players in the league and was very difficult to control and contain. 

“We move on and will aim to come back full tilt against Plymouth this Saturday.”