Brend (pictured) picks out Bond and Ford as star turns in Bideford win over Cullompton | 'Bondy skittled their top three and Fordy showed his class and experience after being asked to open again'

Tom Brend – top scored with 77 for Bideford against Cullompton

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

BIDEFORD consigned their defeat by Tavistock to the past with a six-wicket win over Cullompton that keeps them third in the B Division.

Chris McKeen made a top score of 53 for Cullompton as they recovered from a sluggish start to reach 209 all out in the 44th over.

An opening stand of 155 between James Ford (68) and skipper Tom Brend (77) pointed Bideford towards a win that keeps them third in the table.

Steve Bond – wickets for BidefordOnly Tapara Mupariwa in Cully’s top four made much headway against Bideford bowler Steve Bond (3-37) early on.

Tom Mortiboys (24) and McKee negotiated the difficulties presented by Ian Brown (2-33) to reach 175 for seven.

Martin Stewart (2-32) accounted for the bits-and-pieces batters in the low order.

McKee finally accounted for Bideford opener Ford, but by the time Brend was out the chase was almost over.

Clayton Malgas (15), Julian Hayter (11no) and James Roe (10no) administered the coup de grâce.

Brend said the team did the basics right and delivered the bounce-back win he wanted.

“We bowled well again in the conditions and, bar one of their batsmen (McKee), we stayed on top throughout limiting them to just above 200. 

“For the fifth week running we set a platform for the chase with the bat and executed our plan brilliantly.

“A 155 partnership up top set the game up for our middle order to get us home comfortably with three overs to spare.”

Brend picked out opening bowler Bond and opening batsman Ford for special praise.

“Bondy skittled their top three and Fordy showed his class and experience after being asked to open again in the absence of James Hayter,” said Brend.

Todd Scrace, the Cullompton captain, said: “It was another 'nearly' game for us.

“After a difficult start with the bat our middle order helped us get to a respectable total. 

“We knew we had to get early wickets to win the game but unfortunately they came too late.

“Every bowler worked their socks off to get the breakthrough but their top order batted brilliantly.”