LIAM Talbot hammered an unbeaten 51, which he reached while hitting the match-winning runs, as Paignton 3rd XI defeated Shaldon Optimists by seven wickets in the second semi-final of the Brockman Cup.
Holders Brixham 2 nd XI were already through to Friday night's final at Torquay Recreation Ground (6pm) and so are Paignton after knocking off Shaldon's 130 for nine with 14 balls of their 20 overs remaining.
Shaldon did incredibly well to set Paignton any sort of chase at all as they were 32 for five at one stage after an early roughing up from Andy Wakeham (3-21) and Neil Collings (2-20).
A captain's knock of 50 from James Fulner, who clubbed three sixes and six fours, got Shaldon going again.
Along the way there was a stand of 52 with Dan Hardwidge, whose contribution was just five!
Richard Boss weighed in with 15 not out at the end in the face of a miserly spell from ex-England U19 star Keith Benton (2-19).
Paignton had a couple of problems early on – Colin Knight, Aaron Hearn and Matt Taylor all went relatively cheaply – but Talbot (51no) and Mark Griffiths (39) soon got on top of the bowling and the outcome was a formality long before the end.
Shaldon 130-9 (J Fulner 50, R Boss 15no; A Wakeham 3-21, N Collings 2-20, K Benton 2-19), Paignton 134-3 (L Talbot 51no, M Griffiths 39no). Paignton bt Shaldon by seven wickets.
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