Braunton snatch victory over Bovey from jaws of imminent defeat | 'The guys never gave up – I was proud of the fielding and bowling performance – and we still showed belief right until the last' – Sam Reddick

BRAUNTON’S winning form continued with a nail-gnawing six-wicket win over visiting Bovey Tracey 2nd XI.

Two win in two starts has given Braunton an early share of the B Division leadership with Plymstock.

Bovey Tracey skipper Dan Green is probably still wondering how his side lost after reaching 162 for four chasing 195 to win.

Losing the next three wickets for just seven runs scored altered the complexion of the game and Bovey folded on 188.

At first glance a batting collapse proved Bovey’s downfall, but that wasn’t how Green saw it.

“Ultimately, we only have ourselves to blame due to our extras column,” said Green in a clear reference to the 51 wides Bovey gave away.

Sam Reddick, the Braunton captain admitted he feared the worst when Bovey only needed 23 to win with six wickets in hand.

“The guys never gave up – I was proud of the fielding and bowling performance – and we still showed belief right until the last,” said Reddick.

“A solid second spell from Theo Valeri bought us some key wickets as the pressure built by Jon Baglow and Steve Moore got us right back in it.”

Top-three runs for Kyle Faber (21), Sam Bithell (36) and Callum Mitchell (29) were only added to off the bat by Steve Aston with 21. The 53 extras Bovey Tracey gave away – 51 of them wides – outscored any individual.

Gethin Williams (3-23) and Jack Ansley (3-35) dominated Bovey’s bowling stats. Kiwi Sam Veal (2-32) offered little to hit.

Bovey appeared to be making light work of the chase as George Pitman (96) and Sam Russell (43) took the tally to 110 for two.

Moore (3-26) and Baglow engineered the middle-order wobble that contributed to Bovey’s undoing, although as long as Pitman hung around the game was in the balance.

The target was seven to win with three wickets left when Valeri bowled Pitman. He polished off the tail to finish with figures of three for 33.

Green said hidden in the wreckage of defeat were some encouraging signs too.

“This is the second week in a row we have restricted a team to a below-par total, which is a positive,” said Green,

“George and Sam got us off to a great start, and broke the back of the chase, but credit to Braunton for fighting back and holding their nerve.”