BOVEY Tracey are on collision course for a last-day Premier Division survival showdown against Paignton after a stunning 139-run win over Sidmouth.

Bovey Tracey were 31 points below the relegation waterline midway through the 18-match season – and looking odds-on favourites for the drop.

Five wins in the subsequent seven starts – one game was washed out – have taken Bovey four points clear of the bottom two. It’s a comeback Lazarus would have been proud of.

Paignton are the team four points behind Bovey Tracey, which means it really is winner takes all in Saturday’s Recreation Ground showdown. Whoever loses is on the way down alongside Plympton.

Bovey pelted along to 262 for six in a game slimmed down to 40 overs each with opener Jake Pascoe holding the enterprise together with a determined 89.

By the time Pascoe was third out he had been involved in partnerships of 53 with Harry Mount (29) and 102 with former captain Lewis Hammett (29).

Seb Ansley – 35 in a rush off 16 balls – and Tom Andrew (38no) took Bovey most of the rest of the way.

“Jake’s was a mature, controlled innings; I was so chuffed for him,” said Bovey skipper Pete Bradley.

“Along with Tom Andrew and Harry Mount. our youngsters are really stepping up with the bat.”

Bowling highlights for Sidmouth were few and far between, although Taylor Ingham-Hill claimed three for 39 against his former Bovey team-mates.

Sidmouth started hesitantly – they were 25 for three – got to 69 without further mishap before losing Sam Elstone (31) then lost three wickets for one run. That was game over.

Jamie Baird soldiered on to a top score of 37, and Tom Simmons made 21, but there was little else of note in an all-out total of 123.

Bovey bowlers Rob Pryke, Braydon Pink and Sam Harvey all claimed two wickets. Ollie Clifford-Bourne (3-16) went one better with a haul that included top scorer Baird.

Bradley praised the bowling unit, saying: “Rob Pryke and Seb Ansley bowled with skill and control. Both bowled to plans and looked threatening.”

Musa Twala, Bovey’s South African overseas player, missed the game due to a side strain. Bradley expects him back for the Paignton showdown.

Bradley added: It was a real positive that we could win without him as that give us even more belief in our abilities and what we are trying to do.”