Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Paignton up to second as Plympton slip

South Devon CC 1st XI. Back (left to right): Matt Coult, Will Littlechild, Sam Davies, Henry Burningham, James Hart, Ryan Maunder.
Front: Tom Carter, David Knowles, Adrian Hewings, Ali Wright and Hammad ul-Hassan. Photo: Tony Knowles
A DIVISION

PLYMPTON dropped four places down the A Division table to fifth after fighting out a losing draw with leaders Exeter – not that skipper Andy Walter is too worried.

Tom Viljoen hit 89 not out as Exeter reached 259 for six in their 50 overs.

Plympton were 200 for eight when their overs ran out – Amir Hayat taking the batting honours with 51.

As Paignton, Cornwood and Brixham all won, Plympton had to slide down the table.

But Walter insisted Plympton’s promotion push is very much on the rails as the gap between fifth and second is only nine points.

“Season wise, there is still a lot of cricket to be played,” said

“Everybody in the top five have to play each other so it's going to be an interesting last five games of the season to see who can go up with Exeter,” said Walter.

Miles Lenygon (70) and Rob Holman (24) got Plympton iff to a 70-run start, then Baden Norwood (32) and Viljoen put on 41.

David Wrench (3-54) and Hayat (2-69) slowed Exeter for a while before Viljoen and Cam Grainger (14) hoisted 71 at the end.

Walter (24) and Josh Mailling (24) made a 47-run dent in the deficit, but by halfway Plympton’s hot-pursuit had slowed to 104 for four.

Dealing with Exeter’s spinners was the problem as Adam Gribble (4-24 off 15) proved particularly hard to get away.

Hayat (51) pulled the middle order along with him to get Plympton up to 200 for eight and maximum batting points.

Walter said he was happy with the points split after tangling with the best side in the division.

“To walk away with 10 points was as good as I could of asked for at tea,” said Walter.

“We had a great start with the bat with Josh Mailling and myself putting on 47 in the first seven overs before I had a leading edge straight back to Adam Gribble.

“Everybody chipped in but Amir Hayat was the only one to go on and make 50.”

SHOBROOKE Park thrashed Braunton by 101 runs to inch a little closer to getting out of the A Division bottom two.

As fellow strugglers Plymstock were well beaten at Cornwood, Shobrooke are only 20 points from safety with five games to go.

Skipper Justin Dollow biffed a top score of 68 in Shobrooke’s total of 179 for nine, which was helped at the end by 23 from Ben Trenaman.

Braunton skipper Jon Baglow (4-33) was the pick of the bowlers.

Braunton were in trouble at 25 for five after a going over from Trenaman (3-19) and Eric Parmakellis (2-25), but thanks to Andy Paddison;s 27 recovered to reach 65 for six.

Then the wheel fell of. Four wickets went to Dollow (2-27) and Pete Steer (2-6) as Braunton collapsed to 78 all out.

It’s second-placed Paignton next for Shobrooke, whose skipper is looking a bit further ahead in the scrap to stay up.

“It was important to beat Braunton as it brings them down into the mix with us,” said Dollow.

“Paignton will be tough, but it is the game against South Devon (10th), Plymstock (8th) and Abbotskerswell (6th) coming after that we have to target.”

CORNWOOD rejoined the A Division promotion race with a resounding 127-run win over Plymstock in the derby clash at Oak Park.

Chris Parker responded to being moved up the order by making a top score of 70 in Cornwood’s total of 252 for seven.

Adam Goodliffe’s left-arm seam then accounted for four Plymstock batters for 32 runs as the visitors were bundled out for 125.

Victory puts Cornwood third in the table, just two points behind Paignton, who beat Abbotskerswell to go second. Plymstock remain one place above the drop zone.

Having suffered at Paignton’s hands seven days earlier, Cornwood skipper Craig Harris said his side had to come back with a win.

“It took hard work to do it, but was very rewarding,” said Harris.

“It's down to us now to keep working and putting in the effort each week until the end of the season.”

Corwood’s total was constructed around two key stands, the first an opening partnership of 100 between Parker and Mark Horwell (31).

Harris (42) and Mohmammad Salman (38) chipped in 75 more for the fourth wicket after Ollie Mulbery (3-67) and Dave Orchard (2-41) bowled Plymstock back into the game.

Spin bowler Salman (2-18) took the new ball as Cornwood were seamer light and helped reduce Plymstock to 76 for four in reply.

Matt Reynolds (50) kept it together at one end, but Adam Goodliffe (4-32) and Dart chipped away at the other.

Said Harris: “It was pleasing after winning the toss to bat and set a competitive total.

“Although we were missing a couple of bowling options we did have some different ones from different players and the variety helped us keep the pressure on well.

“All of the bowling unit were disciplined and despite other games where we may have had to force away the draw, our tempo and enthusiasm kept us in the game and allowed us to take continuous wickets.”

PAIGNTON can take another step closer to promotion from the A Division this Saturday if they beat relegation worriers Shobrooke Park.

The derby clash with Abbotskerswell went according to play from Paignton’s point of view as they won by 117 runs to go two points clear of Cornwood in the scrap for runners-up slot behind Exeter.

Skipper Andy Kingdon slammed 92 and there was 64 from Richard Ashworth against the club he left recently as Paignton complied 239 for eight. Their stand of 163 was crucial rescuing the team from 65 for six.

Josh Dowling bagged five for 61 for Abbots, who were bowled out for 122 in reply, Dickie Acton making 41.

George Benton did the damage with seven for 44 and George Yates (2-4) backed him up.

“We have got a big five games to come,” said Paignton skipper Kingdon.

“Abbots bowled tightly at the start and we played a few out-of -character shots.

Credit to Richard Ashworth, who batted very well at his old ground.

It was only Richard’s second knock for us in the league and I was delighted to see him do well.

“In the field George Benton showed again that there aren't many better bowlers in Devon than him.

He bowls with pace and his fitness means his pace doesn't drop.

“He deserved seven - and could have easily got all 10.”

Abbots’ skipper Richard Lake said he

“Chasing 238 was going to be a big ask against Paignton’s bowling attack,”said Lake.

“We will be looking to continue playing positive cricket and look forward to strengthening our squad as key players come back into the fold.”

Defeat leaves Abbots 37 points ahead of the relegation places, although they could be sucked closer if they lose to Plymstock this Saturday.

BRIXHAM beat South Devon by a massive 200-run margin to re-ignite their A Division promotion prospects.

Mark Orchard top scored with 49 as Brixham belted along to 265 for eight in their 50 overs.

The runs came steadily all the way down with Matt Stringfellow (38), Craig Eaves (30) and Tim Robinson (35no) all chipping in.

Hammad Ul-Hassan (3-43) and Will Littlechild (2-33) were South Devon’s most respectable bowlers.

South Devon were quickly under the cosh at 11 for four as Orchard got stuck into them.

Ul-Hassan was 25 not out in a total of 65 all out – Orchard finishing with seven for 44.

Brixham are away to unbeaten leaders Exeter this Saturday, which will test their promotion aspirations to the full.

South Devon, 44 points adrift at the bottom, now need a miracle to avoid the drop. They welcome Braunton to Marsh Road.