Codd feeling safer after Bovey win at Paignton

Mark Orchard bowling for Paignton against Bovey Tracey

BOVEY Tracey skipper Toby Codd is feeling more confident about playing Premier cricket again next season in the wake of a nine-run win over Paignton.

Bovey (173pts) have been living dangerously for a while and jostling with Torquay (147), North Devon (156) and Sandford (160) to avoid the dreaded drop.

Codd feels one more win will be enough to stave off relegation once and for all.

“We were due a win and always felt we could get one against Paignton having beaten them already,” said Codd.

Brian Chari batting for Bovey against Paignton“One more win and I can’t see us getting caught up in the relegation battle. We have two tough games though – Heathcoat and Plymouth – and our priority in both will be getting as many points as we can.”

Codd would have been the happier captain on Saturday night as opposite number George Benton had to accept his side’s title hopes are over.

Heathcoat’s win over Sandford means they are 39 points clear of second-placed Paignton with 40 to play for.

Said Benton: “It was a disappointing result, but with plenty of positives.

“We bowled very well to restrict Bovey to less than 170.

“We lost too many wickets in a short space of time.

“Bovey bowled well and got the luck of some decisions.

“We should have won but, unfortunately, we let the game slip away from us.”

Bits and pieces got Bovey up to 164 for eight in the full 50 overs. Brian Chari (34) and Abraham Kopparambil (31) put on 54 for the second wicket, Peter Bradley (20) chipped in then Lewis Hammett (24no) and Chris Bradley (21) conjorned up a valuable 39 for the eighth.

Benton (2-26) was the only Paignton bowler with more than one wicket.

Paignton’s chase followed a similar pattern with Anthony Alleyne (22) and Luke Medlock (27) showing the way.

When Paignton were 139 for six with eight overs to go and Benton (30) still there, they looked favourites to win. The game turned on three wickets going down for three runs scored in the space of 123 balls.

Twenty to win proved too many for last pair Connor Ashworth and Steve George, who got as far as 155.

Codd and Ryan Bougourd had three wickets each for Bovey. Hugo Whitlock and Chris Bradley shared the other four.

Bovey are on a hiding to nothing this Saturday as they got to Heathcoat with five 1st XI regulars missing.

Paignton are at home to Exeter.