Devon Cricket Board - Our title to lose now says Torquay skipper Yau

Our title to lose now says Torquay skipper Yau

IT’S next stop the Premier Division title for Torquay after they beat Paignton by 146 runs in the Bay derby clash.
Opener Mitch Pugh made 130 in a Torquay total of 269 for eight.
Paignton, who only batted with ten as Aaron Hearn had broken a finger while fielding, were all out for 123 in reply.
Somerset’s Max Waller did most of the damage, taking six for 26 in 10 overs as Paignton collapsed from 45 for one to 69 for five and on to 123 all out.
Torquay are now 30 points clear of pursuing Sidmouth, who won by two wickets with a ball to spare at Heathcoat, where they were asked to improve on the home side’s 306 for seven.
The title isn’t in the bag yet as there are 60 points to play for, starting with Exmouth this Saturday.
For Torquay to let it slip now they would have to lose badly to Exmouth and Bovey Tracey to let Sidmouth through the back door.
Justin Yau, the Torquay captain, said he can’t see the title getting away now.
“That's seven wins on the spin now and we are full of confidence,” said Yau.
“The boys are in a good place and we just need to keep it going for a few more weeks.
“It would be a marvellous feat if we went all the way without losing another one but we have some very tough games coming up.
“Sidmouth did exceptionally well to beat Heathcoat but it must be pretty demoralising that, despite all their efforts, they lost another two points to us in the race.
“It doesn't matter what they do now until the end of the season- we have it in our own hands and will only have ourselves to blame if we don't win the championship from here.”
Paignton are still scrapping to get out of the bottom two, where Plympton’s fate was sealed by their defeat at Exmouth.
They need to find 27 points from somewhere to get out of the bottom two and ahead of either Heathcoat or Exeter.
Their best chance is at Heathcoat this Saturday. Lose that one and that will probably condemn Paignton to the drop a year after they came up as A Division champions.
Skipper Connor Bryan said the fight will go on to the bitter end.
“We are not looking at clubs around us, but have to concentrate on the games we have each weekend,” said Bryan.
“We need to win, regardless of what other clubs do, and will be giving it all till last the ball of the season is bowled!
“We will never be backing down and giving up though.”
Jack Richardson, who drove home from his new job in Leeds to cover a hole in the batting order left by the absent Matt Thompson, was out for one in the third over, caught behind off Rob Shergold.
Pugh proceeded to bully the bowling for nearly three hours, taking Torquay to 238 for five before Chris Kelmere got him out.
Along the way there was a stand of 148 for the second wicket with skipper Justin Yau (45) and another of 36 with Waller (20).
Ryan Stevenson, back at the Rec after is second week at Hampshire, chipped in a cheeky 26 not out from 25 balls.
The pick of the bowlers were Shergold – he was the only one to keep it below four and over – and George Yates (3-40).
Paignton got to 45 for one thanks to Ollie Higgs and Peter Taylor, then started to fade away as Waller wove his way through the batting.
Taylor was sixth out at 89 – Matt Petherbridge the man responsible – and it was downhill all the way after that. Dan North made 19 at the end in a losing cause.
“It was a clinical performance and we bossed the game from start to finish,” said Yau.
“Mitchell Pugh played a fantastic innings to get us to 269 which was well above par.
“It was always going to be tough for Paignton to chase it on a wearing and turning wicket with three quality spinners up our sleeve.
“George Yates bowled particularly well during our innings and I was also very impressed by the way Peter Taylor batted in their innings.”

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