DEFENDING Blight Motors NDL champions Westleigh beat current Division One leaders Bideford by one run in an exciting match at Merchants Park.

Westleigh scored 202 for nine thanks in the main to the Poole boys – Tom (44) and James (30) – and a rapid 67 not out from Richard Wild.

Oli Keates was Bideford’s top bowler with three for 43. Elliot Curry chipped in with a couple.

Bideford’s reply was led by Fionn Toland's (41) with James Greenleaf next highest with 27. 

It went down to the last ball, bowled by veteran speedman Richard Pearson to Mark Paul, with Biddy needing three to win.

Paul and Keith Berry managed to run one leg-bye, but Paul was easily run-out attempting the second! Earlier, Tom Poole took three wickets for Westleigh.

Newton Tracey conceded their game at Nomansland

Division Two leaders Hatherleigh entertained Victoria Park and won by 93 runs. Hatherleigh posted an all-out total of 225. Shreyansh Ghosh top scored with 74, a relative failure for him! He got help from Daniel Forrester (42) and Kirt Forgham (35).

Viccy Park used six bowlers. They all took wickets, although none bettered Dave Branch (3-34). 

Jack Ancill led the chase with 47, and along with Jack Sargent (35) and Will Anderson (26) took the visitors to 119 for three. 

There followed a collapse to 132 all out. Fred Batt took the bowling plaudits for Hatherleigh with three for 15 – and there were a couple each for Ghosh, Cam Rowlands, and Owen Johns.

Braunton took the short trip down the A361 to Ilfracombe, where they won by 88 runs. Braunton batted first and scored 246 for seven in their 40 overs. Mark Thomas played the innings of the day  with an unbeaten 121 off 81 balls. He hit seven sixes in addition to 11 fours and shared a 117 partnership with Ed Holmes (39). Skipper Sam Reddick got the innings off to a start with 35. 

Ki Standley, David Cain, and Dinesh Kankanamange all took a couple for 'Combe. 

Ilfracombe struggled to a 40 over total of 158 for seven against tight Braunton bowling.

Nathan Townsend led the chase with 58. The only other significant contribution came from skipper Tom Ward with 36 not out.

James Hare and Andrew Jones both took a couple of wickets for Braunton.

Newton Tracey against Exford was a casualty of the weather

Barnstaple & Pilton were unable to raise a team to play at Holsworthy.