TEIGNMOUTH & Shaldon captain Carl Woolnough confessed that the 62-run win over deposed B Division leaders Barton exceeded all expectations.
Woolnough top scored with 32 for his side in their total of 188 all out. Four wickets for Seamus McKenna, and three more for Ryan Bougourd, went a long way towards bowling out Barton for 126.
Victory maintained a healthy 19-point gap between T&S and Clyst St George in the second relegation place.
Defeat meant Cullompton’s win over Bovey Tracey 2nd XI took them to the top at Barton’s expense.
Said Woolnough: “It was one of those games where we were just looking to pick up as many points as possible against a team top of the table.”
McKenna (29), Josh Couch (27) and Harrison Linnett (23) all contributed to Teignmouth & Shaldon’s total before Woolnough got in.
Tail-ender Jawad Shirzad walloped two sixes during a rapid 17 in the dash for runs at the end.
Nick Watkin (3-46) was Barton’s most successful bowler. Fin Last (2-13) and professional Tari Masakanda (2-24) had a couple of wickets each.
Barton got to 80 for three in reply – Masakanda (33) pointing the ahead – but slowed after a double strike from Bougourd (3-20).
The beginning of the end was the dismissal of former captain Adam Parker (45) by McKenna (4-20).
Last (24) battled on while wickets fell at the other end. Five went for 13 runs as Barton bowed out for 126.
Woolnough said the game went largely to plan thanks to McKenna and Bougourd.
"We wanted 200, and didn't quite make it, but with the attack we have it was always about getting Masakanda then putting pressure on the rest of them,” said Woolnough.
"Shay and Ryan will get the plaudits because of their figures, but Ruben was outstanding. He took away most of Masakanda’s scoring shots and could've had him lbw twice on close shouts.”
Elsewhere, Tavistock 2nd XI ended an eight-game wait for a win in the E Division East with a six-wicket victory over Teignmouth & Shaldon 2nd XI.
Teignmouth struggled for runs from the word go against Dylan Rundle (2-20), Jack Bellamy (1-18) and Marc Lewis (2-13). Chris Partridge (18) was the only batter to make much headway.
The lower order crumbled to 88 all out as Ryan Burke (3-26) and Jon Procter (2-8) winkled them out. Extras (19) outscored any individual batsman in a tally of 88 all out.
Tavistock’s pursuit was held together by Lewis, who went on at two for one in the second over and was still there on 51 not out at the end.
Ben Russell (14) and Andy Gauler (11no) chipped into the chase.
Ross Abraham (2-36) and Kelli Ashington (2-17) were T&S’s wicket-taking bowlers.