Valeri (pictured) takes a ton off Ashburton as Braunton end losing run | 'Theo batted superbly with exceptional running between the wickets all day' – Sam Reddick

BRAUNTON won for the first time in three starts when they trounced bottom side Ashburton by 97 runs.

Favourable results elsewhere – defeats for Barton and Clyst St George in particular – helped Braunton lift themselves out of the bottom two.

Ashburton remain where they have been since the third week of the season, which is bottom of the table.

Theo Valeri lit up the Braunton innings with 132 in a team total of 261 for six. Valeri, in at ten for one in the fourth over, put on 79 with surviving opener Sam Bithell (30) and 99 more with Charlie Tucker (42).

Matt Churchill (2-36) was the only Ashburton bowler to take more than two wickets, or operate below for runs an over. Chris McKee and Charlie Towers cost between four and five each.

Ashburton never looked like repeating their disappearing act of seven days earlier – all out for 34 against Plympton – but at 78 for three approaching halfway were not likely winners either.

Runs for opener Steve Edmonds (31) and Churchill (53) will have encouraged Ashburton captain Lloyd White for the survival fight ahead.

Three wickets for Jon Baglow (3-17) and two each for Valeri, Andy Norman and Luan Matthews de Menezes added up to Ashes’ demise for 164.

Although Braunton skipper Sam Reddick missed out with the bat, he was definitely upbeat after the match.

“Everything went as planned throughout the day with us being able to put a total on the board,” said Reddick.

“Theo batted superbly with exceptional running between the wickets all day and was backed up well by Sam Bithell and Charlie Tucker.

“Ashburton never seemed overly interested in the run chase. We bowled accurately near enough all day and made it hard for them on a flat pitch. 

“Twenty points right before the turn to lift us out the bottom two will do us some good in preparation for Stoke Gabriel next week.”

Despite another defeat, this one showed encouraging signs for White, whose team has been in the bottom two since week three of the season.

“A much-improved performance from the lads,” said White. “We were pretty unlucky to lose Nick Martin to injury early in the game, which certainly didn't help.

“A big thank you to Sam Reddick and the opposition for allowing Jamie Bannister to field for us for 33 overs

“Matt Churchill then showed tremendous character, batting superbly through injury. If we keep playing with this attitude and commitment, the results will come.”