Old Down inserted neighbours Bradley Stoke and gave them a torrid time through an opening attack of Ian Maunder (1-35) and Greg Welsher (4-24).

Telling support came from spinner Harry Kitchen (2-13) and Dave Dinely (3-12).

Only Daniel Peachy (23) and Bhushan Mankar (14) reached double figures as Bradley Stoke struggled to an insecure 86 all out.

Old Down’s superb fielding display was the perfect foil to some excellent bowling.

A swashbuckling 48 from Old Down opener Dave Gardener should have settled the outcome but his colleagues seemed nervously uncertain and only a calm 13 not out from promoted centurion Pete Newton-Smith guided them home safely enough despite the loss of six wickets. Mankar (4-25) and Wayne Passmore (1-27) earned credit on a slow pitch but it was too small a total to defend as the home side coasted to the honours.

First Division 2nd XIs Failand & Portbury (123) lost to Old Down (124-4) by six wickets

Super-confident Old Down reduced Failand to 123 all out thanks to tight bowling from James Woodruff (3-25), John Thomas (3-33) and Tom Pullin (2-33).

Failand’s best was 23 from Arachige.

Old Down’s openers all-but finished the job between them as Ed Linsdale, who hit (60 not out including 12 boundaries, and Alex Grosvenor (28) took them close.

Yet the simple task was completed comfortably in only 27 overs as the visitors eased to a deserved victory.