ASHBURTON literally turned the tables on Bideford with a two-wicket win over them in the bottom-versus-top encounter on Varwell Field.

Bideford went into the match sitting at the top of the table and looking to kick-on with a win over lowly Ashburton. The hosts have been bottom of the table since week three and were starting to look doomed to the drop.

Two wins on the spin have revived Ashes’ fortunes by cutting the gap between them and safety to 14 points.

Bideford are still top – joint top now with Stoke Gabriel on 151 points – with Seaton just two points behind in third.

Ashburton bowled-out Bideford for 210 with 13 balls to go. There were three wickets each for seamer Chris McKee – two caught behind – and three more for spinner Chris Yeo.

James Hayter made a patient 58 off 94 balls for Bideford. He was involved in stands that added 156.

Alex Hannam (37) and Julian Hayter (22no) were the only notable contributors

Steve Edmonds opened up for Ashburton with 71 that kept the chase on course all the way to 157 for four. A stand of 74 with Jack Warren (33) proved crucial to the outcome.

The last legs of the relay were run by Yeo (16), Harry Bannister (16no) and Nat Saturley (13no).

Ford (2-28), Fawaaz Gallie (2-29) and Josh King (1-37) ensured Ashburton had to work for their runs.

Lloyd White, the Ashburton captain, said: “To field and bowl as well as we did in that heat, having lost the toss, was absolutely brilliant.

“ It was a day where we had to hold our nerve and I'm really proud of the fight we showed.

“Chris McKee was awesome with the new rock and then came back and broke a solid partnership, which was crucial. 

“With the bat, we rode our luck but Steve was sublime once again and we had some solid partnerships without ever fully kicking on.”

“I've said it before but anyone can beat anyone in this division and it's great to get back to winning ways.”

Losing captain Ford said it was a sub-standard performance with numerous shortcomings.

“We just weren’t anywhere near our best in any discipline,” said Ford.

“James Hayter batted well for his 60, but other than that we needed a couple more batsman to get a big score.

“Not batting our 50 overs was criminal and, in hindsight, could have been one factor that cost us.

“In the field, we were miles off of our standards from ball one. Dropped catches cost us badly.

“Congratulations to Ashburton, who were the better side on the day and deserved their win.”