Faber ton puts Braunton on top in North Devon derby | 'Kyle battled hard and paced his innings superbly' – Sam Reddick | Bideford crumble as chase goes wrong |

BIDEFORD’S run chase ground to a halt at Braunton, where they lost a close encounter by just 16 runs.

Bideford were 207 for five chasing 262 to win – Kyle Faber had scored an unbeaten ton for Braunton – with skipper Jack Ford (56) and Ollie Hannam (30) going along nicely. Opener James Ford (61) and Luka Metu (40) had already put on 90.

The chase went wrong in the time it took for Bideford to crumble from 207 for five to 235 for eight then nine.

Dan Brierley (3-36) and Steve Moore (3-47) had already damaged Bideford’s prospects before Luan Matthews (2-54) took two wickets in two balls to hasten their demise.

Braunton’s batters pottered around at first before Faber started putting bat to ball. His 114 not out included 12 fours and five sixes accumulated from 96 balls faced.

Mark Thomas joined in with 75 not out from 53 balls. He hit four sixes and nine fours while putting on 151 unbroken with Faber for the fifth wicket towards a team total of 261 for four.

Josh King (2-34) was the only Bideford bowler to take more than one wicket and operate (3.78) below four runs an over.

Sam Reddick, the Braunton captain, described it as a ‘great performance’ with more to it than Faber’s ton.

“We showed real character and dug deep,” said Reddick.

"Bideford bowled excellently up top. Kyle battled hard and paced his innings superbly. 

“It was also great to see Mark Thomas bludgeon the ball to all parts.”

Jack Ford, Reddick’s opposite number, saw things a little differently.

"Dropping Faber four times before his hundred didn't help our cause at all,” said Ford.

“But I thought Braunton’s score was only around par on a good wicket with a short and rapid outfield.

“We had the chase setup nicely at one stage with around 10 overs to go, but in the end faded away pretty poorly.

“We were miles off of our best all day and didn't deserve to take anything from the match.”