MINEHEAD claimed their second successive win on Saturday when they convincingly beat Chard by 55 runs at home to boost their chances of avoiding relegation.
They have climbed to seventh in the Somerset Division table, 22 points clear of the drop zone with just three games to go.
Batting first, they got off to a blistering start as Ian Buchanan and Liam Muggeridge punished some loose opening bowling to race to 100 in just the 20th over, Muggeridge reaching 50 on the way.
The scoreboard read 105 by the time Buchanan was dismissed for 44, clean bowled by Joe Draper, and he was followed shortly afterwards by Angus Marsh, out the same way for just six.
Dan Bowditch also fell cheaply before Muggeridge was well caught at second slip for an excellent 84 which included 14 fours and 2 sixes.
That left the Minehead innings teetering on 140-4 after a strong start, but the introduction of Alastair Harrison tipped the momentum back in their favour as he wasted no time in rotating the strike and finding the boundary when the opportunities arose.
With the help of Andrew Stevens (14) and Robbie Garwood (26), he took the score past 225 for maximum batting points as he rushed towards a superb 49-ball 51 which included seven fours.
A couple late blows from Garwood and Greg Howard (8no) added some late impetus before the former was stumped off the penultimate delivery of the innings, giving Minehead a total of 255 all out from 49.5 overs,
In reply, Chard openers Nathan Johnson (23) and Alex Hunt (12) offered very little aggression early on as Bowditch and Darren Sherring bowled with impressive accuracy.
Bowditch made the breakthrough in the 12th over when he had Hunt acrobatically caught at mid-on by Ellis Taylor, and he and Sherring continued to bowl impeccable lines as both completed ten overs on the bounce to leave Chard on just 46-1 after 20 overs.
The introduction of the in-form Ellis Taylor (3-53) brought instant results as he first removed Johnson then had Pete Moxom caught at Gully for a duck in his next over.
Overseas player Matt Micale stood firm and with the help of John Scott managed to push the score past 100 in the 33rd over as he passed his 50 milestone with little alarm, and it took an over from part-time bowler Stevens (1-5) to break the partnership when he clean bowled Scott for 38.
When Chris Scot was runout for a duck in the same over ,Chard were staring defeat in the face at 143-5, requiring 113 to win from nine overs.
Micale provided a couple lusty blows before being bowled by Taylor for 79 and Muggeridge (2-33) continued his impressive performance with two wickets of his own as the Chard innings ended on 200-8, 56 runs short of victory.
Minehead travel to Wembdon tomorrow (Saturday), where a win would all but secure safety.