IVYBRIDGE missed out on the chance to build on their win over Budleigh Salterton when they lost by four wickets to new boys Abbotskerswell.

Bridge skipper Harry Solomon has been hammering home the point about batting in partnerships, but it doesn’t seem the message is getting through.

Ivybridge were 29 for four when Solomon went out to join Charles Kunje after an early duffing up from Ricardo Small-Boyce (3-31)

Kunje (54) and Solomon (66) put on 126 for the fifth wicket in the only stand of more than 30 in the entire innings.

Nick Watkin broke the partnership by dismissing Kunje and ran through the bottom half of the order on his way to figures of six for 23.

Ivybridge were all out for exactly 200 in the 47th over – and 53 of those were extras.

Abbots, winless prior to Saturday lost opener James Westlake to James Bullock (2-50) two balls in.

Surviving opener Small-Boyce played the anchorman and his 49 off 114 balls took Abbots within touching distance of victory.

There were stands of 45 with Charlie Mitchell and a key one of 73 for the firth wicket with Sam Johnston, who hit 12 fours in a 38-ball knock of 60.

By the time Small-Boyce fell to James Sharp at 173 for six, it was almost all over.

Skipper Solomon said getting the batting right is critical if Ivybridge are going to make any progress up the table.

“We lost wickets in a cluster at the start, which didn’t help out batting,” said Solomon.

Our 100-odd partnership helped us put a score together, but we were probably 30-40 runs light.

“When we bowled we gave away too many extras and didn’t bowl tightly enough.”