BOVEY Tracey missed a chance to move up the A Division table when they lost to basement side Cullompton by three wickets.

It was Cullompton’s first league win in four starts and moved them off the bottom. They now occupy the second relegation place with Bovey the side they have to catch to get out of trouble.

The Parr brothers – Jason (3-45) and Brendon (2-30) – made run scoring a challenge for Bovey, who ran out of batters on 174. Only skipper Seb Ansley (40) graduated from the 20s. Reuben Stanley (29) was next best.

Cullompton got off to a racing start with openers Felix Joseph (21) and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe hoisting 78 for the first wicket inside eight overs.

Kamunhukamwe rapid 59 off 37 balls included 30 runs off the bat in an eight-ball over from Harry Mount.

Removing Kamunhukamwe last season’s professional at Barton, did slow things down. But when he was caught at mid-off by Ansley the target was 68 to win with 37 overs to go and eight wickets in hand.

Hem Chetri (3-29) and Ollie Clifford-Bourne (3-42) ensured Cully did not have it all their own way, but Harry Everett’s 34 not out ensured this one was not going to get away.

Bovey skipper Ansley said although the result was displeasing, the fighting spirit could not be faulted.

“I think the final scoreline flattered, but we did well to come right back into the game at the end and show a bit of fight,” said Ansley.

“We didn't score enough on a pitch that didn't really cause trouble. Again, four or five of us got starts but did not capitalise.

“Tinashe took the game away early doors, combined with not bowling particularly well. Hem and Olly Clifford-Bourne brought us back into it, but was a tall order to recover from them being 103 for one in the 12th over.”

Meanwhile, Bovey Tracey 2nd XI remain in relegation jeopardy after sustaining a six-wicket defeat at Plympton.

Bovey’s only consolation is the team directly ahead of them – Braunton and Plymstock – both lost as well. They are seven points away from safety.

Bovey Tracey meandered from 12 for three to 119 for seven before finishing on 161 all out. Alex Carr (4-30) got into the top order, Ollie Goulder (2-37) kept the pressure on in the middle and Shalok Gangatkar (3-33) finished them off.

Outbreaks of run scoring were confined to Brad Causey (31), Gethin Williams (28) and Jack Ansley (also 28).

Plympton were home and hosed with more than 13 overs to go for the loss of four wickets.

Fin Torley (28), and Kristian King (20) got the chasing rolling, Sam Ford (31) kept it motoring and skipper Harry Kandampully was there on 41 not out at the end.

Elsewhere, 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.

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.

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

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.”