Steep II v Ryde II: STEEP’S second team avoided relegation by the slimmest of margins on Saturday, with a maximum 24-point victory over Ryde ensuring that they avoided the drop by just one point.

Captain Ed Ellis won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision was immediately vindicated as the visitors were reduced to 26-4, with two wickets apiece for opening bowlers Billy Lewis and Colin Baty.

Ryde looked to rebuild, with Andy Day and Phil Mew putting on 63 for the fifth wicket before Ellis removed Mew to leave the visitors on 89-5. A flurry of quick wickets fell and the visitors limped to 109-9, with Jack Noble taking two wickets.

A last-wicket partnership of 49 frustrated Steep before Lewis took the final wicket, ensuring that Steep achieved maximum bowling points as Ryde were all out for 158, Day finishing not out on 62.

Steep knew they had to reach the target of 159 with at least six wickets in hand to achieve maximum batting points and avoid relegation.

This looked a distant prospect when opener Tom Callingham was dismissed for three and Steep fell to 12-1. The wicket brought Guy Anderson to the crease, and he rose to the challenge with opening batsman Jack Paul. The pair dismissed any loose deliveries in a vital 80-run partnership before Paul was bowled for 39 by a peach of a delivery from Dan Parker.

Ellis joined Anderson at the crease and runs continued to flow. Anderson completed the win, hitting a four to finish on 66 not out, with Ellis unbeaten on 31.