BIDEFORD are back on top of the B Division, but not by a lot, after thrashing mid-table Plympton by 149 runs.
Stoke Gabriel’s unexpected home defeat by table-propping Ashburton cost them top spot and allowed Bideford to creep past them by just two points.
Ashburton have now defeated both the main promotion contenders, yet remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Ollie Hannam helped himself to an unbeaten century for Bideford in a 50-over total of 283 for five.
After Fred King had been and gone for 44, Hannam (109no) put on 141 for the fourth wicket with skipper Jack Ford (59).
Wicket taking was a trying pastime for Plympton, as was keeping the runs down. No one was cheaper than Jamie Bailey, who was the only bowler to operate below five an over.
Plympton were hustled out for 132 with exactly 18 overs unused. After Kristian King (22) and Isaac Rowsell (23) came and went, they subsided to 71 for six.
Eldho Mathew (46) and Alex Carr (12) got Plympton far enough to earn a couple of batting points.
Marcus Bulled (5-41) claimed his first five-wicket haul for Bideford since arriving from Newton Tracey to hasten Plympton’s demise. Steve Bond (3-32) had Mathew among his poles.
Winning captain Ford said his team appear to be hitting top form at the right time.
“To put together two 150-plus-run wins on the bounce at this stage of the season is promising,” said Ford.
“Oliver Hannam batted superbly for his 100 and played his role brilliantly throughout.
“Leaving wickets in hand allowed us to set a big total of 280, which we were very happy with.”
Ford said savvy cricket put Bidford in control once Plympton went out to bat.
“We caught very well and were ahead of the game from the start of our bowling innings,” said Ford.
Marcus Bulled bowled really for his first DCL ‘5fer’. Steve Bond mopped up brilliantly g up at the end.”
Harry Kandampully, the Plympton captain, found consolation where he could in his post-match sum-up.
“We were beaten by the better team on the day,” said Kandampully. “But the effort in the field on a hot day and a bumpy outfield was great to see.
“I thought the guys who came in for their first game impressed. Joe Coppola bowled a good spell in parts. Eldho Mathew batted really well.
“We move on to next week.”
