BOVEY Tracey defeated Budleigh Salterton by two wickets to keep some distance between themselves and the A Division relegation zone.

It was a second successive win for Bovey on their way out of the bottom two and up to sixth.

Once Sam Whitehead (34) and James Doble (24) had been and gone in a running total of 101 for five, Budleigh were glad of an anchorman knock of 34 from Jack England for reaching 189 all out. Harvey Shipton (12) and Hugh Moore (17) leant a hand.

Bovey’s Rob Pryke (3-19) struck when the ball was new, Hem Chetri (3-29) twirled away in the middle and Albie Bradley had a couple as well.

Bovey looked in great shape at 127 for three in reply after 17 overs with runs safely stashed by Harry Mount (46) and Reuben Stanley. Then came a stumble.

Wickets for Doble (1-12), Moore (2-21) and Simaant Dubey (3-40) reduced Bovey to 136 for seven.

Stanley, aided and abetted by Gethyn Williams, hung on in there to make a match-winning 73 not out that got Bovey over the line.

Jake Pascoe, standing in for Seb Ansley as captain, said it a strong team performance was needed to defeat an in-form side on a run of three straight wins.

“After getting a few key wickets for not many runs, we managed to restrict Budleigh to 189, helped by a great spell by Rob Pryke,” said Pascoe.

“Harry Mount got us off to a flying start in reply before a flurry of wickets left us on the brink of defeat.

“Reuben Stanley fought back with a serious knock, plus the help of Gethyn Williams and got us over the line despite needing 50 when eight down.”