DCL 1st X1 C Division

Kingsbridge 1st X1 192 all out, Bideford

1st X1 193/1.

Bideford (20 points) beat Kingsbridge (four points) by nine

wickets

Kings' 100 per cent winning start came to an abrupt end last Saturday as Bideford inflicted a heavy nine-wicket defeat.

On winning the toss, Kings skipper James Fletcher with no hesitation decided to bat first on a typical-looking hard Bideford track.

It didn't start well for Kings as James Westlake was caught behind off only the second ball of the match.

The Bideford bowlers were causing problems with their swing and movement off the pitch. After some attacking shots from de Silva, he was next to fall for 23, smashing a long hop straight to point.

This brought Angus Watson to the crease to join Fletcher and the together the pair stabilised the innings for a period of time.

However, just as the partnership was looking to be an important one for the innings, Watson was dismissed for 24 leaving the score on 93-3 in the 23rd over. Two more quick wickets soon followed, which included the wicket of Fletcher for 36, leaving the score at 111-5 with 20 overs still left in the innings.

Kings continued to play the attacking shots and finding the boundary was never a problem, but wickets continued to be lost at crucial times in the innings. Ashley Treeby, Joe Buckle and Dan Hardy all provided hefty blows, but no-one was going on to make the big individual score required in the innings.

When Treeby was dismissed for a run-a-ball 37, Kings were 167-7 with over nine overs still remaining. Kings did all they could to try and reach the 200 mark, but Neal Peach was the last man to be dismissed, leaving Kings 50 runs short of where they wanted to be.

In reply, Kings required early wickets to put pressure on Bideford, but early dropped catches cost Kings from exerting any pressure.

Bideford's openers Matt Allin and James Ford feasted on Kings' errors and nullified any potential problems in their innings, taking their partnership above 100.

Kings eventually picked up their one and only wicket through Dan Hardy (1-35 off six overs) in the 22nd over with the score on 105.

However, there was no further success for the bowlers as Bideford continued to hammer the ball round the park and easily chased down the target of 193 in the 36th over with nine wickets remaining.

Unfortunately there weren't many positives from what was an abject batting, bowling and fielding performance.

Kings will have to pick themselves up for this Saturday's home fixture against Axminster – who are sitting pretty in second place with four wins out of four.

In contrast, Kings second XI eased to a comfortable win over Bideford, collecting 18 points as they chased down Bideford's hefty 250-6 for the loss of just three wickets.

Edmonds and Clark took two wickets apiece before Boules' barnstorming 121 not out, aided by 40 not out from Clark, saw them cruise past what should have been a testing total.