CLYST St George took a big stride towards B Division safety by inflicting a 181-run defeat on bottom side Ashburton.

Dan Kendall made a century, and there were 50-plus scores for Andrew Donovan and Bertie Creer, as Clyst accelerated 330 for five. Creer (62) and Donovan (57) added 118 in the final eight overs – and that was after Par Singh (39) and Kendall (103) flogged the bowling for 114.

Among the more painful overs was one from Kalen Warne, whose eight-baller cost 28 runs.

“Dan batted exceptionally well for his hundred with impeccable timing and a lot of determination,” said Par Singh, the Clyst captain.

“Bertie and Andy were at their destructive best – incredible power and ball striking ability from them both – to elevate us to 330, which was well over par on a turning wicket.”

Ollie Manning (4-45), backed-up by Inder Singh (2-26) and Creer (2-24) had Ashburton all out for 149 with nearly 10 overs unused.

Lloyd White (20), Jack Brown (24) and Toby Pascoe (20no) were the only Ashburton batters to make much progress.

“Ollie Manning bowled sensationally well for his four wickets,” said captain Singh. “To bowl 10 overs through as a pacer was a credit to his fitness and hunger for wickets. 

“Inder bowled exceptionally well, as he does almost every week, bringing control and consistency. 

“Bertie Creer was brutish with the ball! Raw pace but with control. A delight to watch.”

Victory has put 20 points between Clyst and Braunton in the second drop spot. Ashburton are already resigned to an immediate return to the C Division West.

“Not our finest day but the lads are still approaching every game with 100 per cent effort and that's all I can ask at this stage,” said Ashburton captain Lloyd White.

“We were well in the game for 30 overs of the Clyst innings, but I think they scored 200 in the last 20 overs, which completely took the game away from us.

“Fair play to Kendall, Donavon and Creer who all struck the ball clean and hard. 

"Charlie Towers Chris McKee both bowled superbly for us and, on another day, could have had three or four wickets which might have changed the game. 

“With the bat, we never got ticking. Once again a few of us got starts, but we were unable to kick-on.”