Axminster strengthened their grip on a C Division promotion berth after a four run victory at home to Yelverton.

The game certainly was one that had plenty of twists and turns along the way!

Batting first, Axminster were in deep trouble with half the side out and just 54 on the board, but skipper Tristan Wakeley played a superb innings, finishing unbeaten on 73 as he and Matt Pyle (53) put on 113 for the seventh wicket and Robbie Prior chipped in with 21 enabling the hosts to close on what still looked a below-par total of 218-8.

That vulnerable total looked insufficient as the last over arrived with the visitors needing ten to win and still having two wickets in hand. Matt Pyle was tasked with handling things for Axminster and he responded in style claiming both remaining wickets, the final one off the last delivery of the day with Sam Farrow taking a smart catch at deep mid-off to begin the home victory celebrations!

A delighted Tristan Wakeley said: “That was a cracking game, one in which we showed we can hold our nerve in tight situations. At different times all looked lost for us, but we showed real character and determination to get the job done.”

The win, coupled with defeats for Ipplepen and Kingsbridge, who both began the day in the top four, leaves the Cloakham Lawn side sitting 14 points clear of third placed Ipplepen with six games to play.

It looks very likely that the Axminster season’s fate will be determined in their next four outings for, after Saturday’s trip to Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough they host first promotion rivals Kingsbridge, then entertain title favourites Bideford before travelling to Ipplepen.

Wakeley says: “They are all tough at this stage of the season, but, we got a real boost hearing of the defeats to Ipplepen and Kingsbridge who we meet in the next four games so we certainly have put our own fate very much in our hands. What we need now is every player in the eleven to raise their individual game by a notch or three to help us get over the finishing line. We have worked very hard to get where we are, but we now need one last push to be able to sit back in early September and enjoy with real pride, our season’s effort. However, all that will not be possible without one big last push!”