Hannam (pictured) and King guide Bideford to win over Bovey | 'It was great to see him back in the runs, especially in a very important situation for the team' – skipper Jack Ford

BIDEFORD’S rediscovered their winning touch after two successive defeats with a six-wicket victory over lowly Bovey Tracey 2nd XI.

Julian Hayter was the man of the moment with the ball for Bideford with a five-wicket haul that ripped out Bovey’s top order.

After Hayter (5-33) had done his stuff,  which included Jamie Bishop and Brad Causey in successive balls, Bovey were 36 for five.

Sam Taylor (31) and Gethin Williams (12) started a fight back that ended when Jack Ford (2-32) spun them out for balls apart.

Dan Green, the Bovey captain, literally launched his own comeback by hoisting Ford for four consecutive sixes. He blocked the fifth ball and took a single of the sixth, then added another maximum in the next over from Josh King!

Green also took 14 off the next over from Alex Hannam before he was dismissed for 50 off just 21 balls in a Bovey total of 148 all out.

"Julian Hayter was outstanding with the new ball, alongside Josh King who was unlucky not to take any wickets in his first spell,” said Bideford captain Jack Ford.

“The bowling was backed up by some great fielding and catching also.”

Bideford were never in any trouble knocking off the runs, which they did before the 24th over was completed.

Ollie Hannam, who went in first wicket down, batted through for an unbeaten 75. Ford (20) and King (23no) provided support along the way.

“A fairly routine run chase, led by Ollie Hannam,” said Ford. “It was great to see him back in the runs, especially in a very important situation for the team.”

Bideford are just about safe from the threat of relegation – and will definitely be if they win at second bottom Ipplepen this Saturday.

"A great result for us, a convincing victory and one of our better all-round performances of the season,” said skipper Ford.

As no one else in the bottom five won in the last round, Bovey’s remain just outside the bottom two. That was some consolation for losing skipper Green.

“Luckily, the other teams in the relegation battle also lost, but that just makes the last two weeks even more important,” said Green.

“We need to improve with the bat to give ourselves a decent chance.”