Axminster dug deep to eventually bag a single wicket win over Clyst St George to maintain a healthy gap between themselves in second place and Ipplepen in third as the C Division promotion races hots up.

Clyst batted first and were restricted to 216-7 thanks to some fine bowling from Nick Taylor (4-30) and Matt Pyle (2-35).

The reply saw wickets fall at regular intervals despite fine knocks from Joel Seward (46), Matt Pyle (40) and Gary Larcombe (40).

However, the wickets kept falling with the penultimate one going down with nine runs required for Axminster to seal an eighth win in ten this term.

Last man Peter Kiy joined Nick Taylor at the wicket and the pair saw their side home with club chairman Kiy scoring the winning boundary.

Skipper Tristan Wakeley said: “The fact we were able to dig deep and win from what looked a troubled position speaks volumes for our strength in depth. I have felt for some time the team can bat all the way down and this was the game that proved it. It was a very good all-round show. We bowled and fielded well and then had a patient Joel Seward knock, an aggressive shift from Gary Larcombe and a mature innings from Matt Pyle. It was all very satisfying.”

Next up for Axminster is Saturday’s East Devon derby with Ottery St Mary. Wakeley says: “Ottery have found some form and that does not surprise me for they are a very good side, certainly on paper. That said we are the home team with home advantage and are playing with lots of confidence. The games go by faster than ever now with ten down and eight to go. Bideford remain out target to catch in terms of trying to win the league, but very much in my mind is keeping a healthy distance between ourselves and Ipplepen to enable us, at the very least this season, to bag a promotion place. To do that we need to keep winning.”