Devon Cricket Board - Plymouth rack up the runs

Plymouth rack up the runs

PLYMOUTH batsmen James Toms, Marnus Labuschange and Jake Luffman dished out the punishment to Torquay as the city side thrashed the Seasiders by 64 runs.
Skipper Matt Hooper was looking for a response after the defeat by Bovey Tracey seven days earlier and got it with interest.
Plymouth amassed 328 for seven in their 50 overs with Toms (74), Labuschange (79) and Luffman (65) all lashing half-centuries.
Torquay had a go – Micky Wilkinson and Nick Watkin both made half-centuries – but a three-wicket haul for Rob Bennett and two each for Dave Burke, Ben Stein and Pasi Mawalage removed the visitors for 264 with one ball of the game remaining.
Victory leaves Plymouth fourth in the table, 14 points behind leaders Sidmouth after four games.
Skipper Matt Hooper said the batsmen laid the platform for a Plymouth win by dominating the Torquay bowlers.
“James Toms really got us going putting the bad ball away, he gave a couple of tough chances but he deserves every run he gets,” said Hooper.
“Marnus Labuschagne played with his usual skill in an innings full of deft touches.
“He finds the gaps in the field as well I have seen anyone.
“It was also great to see runs for Jake Luffman, whose dad and granddad before him scored many runs for Plymouth over the years.
“Jake has so much potential and played very well. We all know how good he is, hopefully this is the springboard for him to go on and score the runs we know he can get.
“Rob Button (38) and Ben Stein (26) came in and scored quickly to get us to big total which was what we were looking for.”
When Torquay were 14 for three in reply with Tim Western, Dan Kruger and Matt Thompson all out cheaply to Bennett (3-43) or Burke (2-33) it looked like a stroll in the park for Plymouth.
Wilkinson (55), Watkin (53) and Mark Gilmour with a rapid 35 made a game of it then Des Wightman with 40 not out at number 10 kept Plymouth fielding longer than they had hoped.
“Torquay’s batting seemed to go on for ever,” said Hooper.
“We got early wickets so it was always going to be difficult for them.
“Dave Burke, Sam Stein and Rob Bennett swung the ball with accuracy.
“Rob is in fine form at the moment, he is swinging the ball at good pace.
“We missed a couple of catches which was disappointing and we went a little flat in the field so we have things to work on.”
Plymouth have topped 300 twice in four games this season and made 264 in the win over Bradinch.
That’s a lot of runs and Hooper says there is more than one reason for them, although the switch to win-lose cricket rules last year is a big factor.
“Pitches seem to be a lot better and the power plays, when used well, help the batters,” said Hooper.
“Batting is of a high standard in this division and more often than not teams have batting right down the order.
“With no draws to go for so teams seem to be far more attacking down the order, which makes it difficult to set fields too.
“Torquay was a prime example. All our bowlers bowled well but all their players seemed to be able to bat. It is great for the neutral, not so good for us bowlers though.”

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