MATT Skeemer bagged four scalps and there were two each for Adam Goodliffe and Jason Hall as Cornwood trounced North Devon by seven wickets.

North Devon arrived at Oak Park depleted in places – Glastonbury, an injury to overseas player Kyle Verreynne and wedding invitations were blamed – but that shouldn’t detract from the quality of Cornwood’s performance.

The Corns dismissed a side who were top of the Premier Division table three weeks ago for 112, then knocked-off the runs with more than 20 overs to spare.

Cornwood are still in the bottom two, but they closed the gap on Plymouth to 14 points as the city side lost to Heathcoat.

After Andy Bees marked his 1st XI recall by trapping former Devon batsman Dan Bowser lbw for 21, Skeemer nipped out Jack Hocking caught behind in the next over.

North Devon wobbled along to 58 for four – Goodliffe (2-25) applying the pressure - and were 96 when Josh King went to the returning Skeemer for a top score of 25.

Skeemer (4-27) and Hall (2-20) ripped through the bottom half of the order as North Devon lost their last six wickets for 16 runs.

Ben Mason (25) was ninth out having resisted longer than anyone.

Cornwood set off in hot pursuit with Mark Roca (35), Jackson Thompson (23) and Aaron Richards (18) getting them to 70 for two.

Hall (23no) took Cornwood to 107 for three when Richards departed, leaving Skeemer (6no) to apply the final touches.

For Cornwood skipper Elliot Staddon the game could not have gone much better it he had scripted it.

“A pleasing game that we controlled very well,” said Staddon.

“Having Andrew Bees back in the side gave us a very tight and disciplined 10 overs – and Matt Skeemer was brilliant from the other end with the new ball.

“Mark Roca batted well to dig in and help knock the runs off.

“It was a good win and we will take the positives and build on them going into Torquay this Saturday, making sure we keep our performances at the same level.”

Matt Westaway, repriesing his former job as North Devon captain in the absence of Barney Huxtable, said: “I have no gripes with the team as a whole as we were thoroughly outplayed.

“With some key players unavailable and us being inserted, it was very important one of the senior batsmen batted through.

“”Cornwood bowled extremely well and gave little opportunity to score.

“They fielded tightly, putting us under a lot of pressure and produced wicket-taking balls at regular intervals.

“We didn’t have enough runs and they batted sensibly and didn't give us a sniff early doors.”