Devon Cricket Board - A Division - Paignton prove intent

PAIGNTON underlined their promotion credentials by beating relegation worriers Shobrooke Park by six wickets.
Eric Parmakellis led the way with 98 for Shobrooke in a total of 210 all out. Parmakellis put on 63 for the third wicket with Dan Maytum (23) and 98 for the fourth with skipper Justin Dollow (29).
Paignton’s South African pacer Brady Barends picked up four for 47 and there were two wickets for George Yates.
With Devon batsman Seb Benton unavailable, Paignton skipper Andy Kingdon sent seamer Stephen George out to open up with Connor Bryan – and the England Deaf XI international did not disappoint.
George (21) and Bryan (28) got Paignton off to a 52-run start, them Barends and Kelmere took up the baton.
Kelmere made 63 and Barends 40 in a stand of 106 which broke the back of the chase.
Pete Turner’s two for 36 was as good as it got for Shobrooke, who need to find 24 points in the last four games to get past Braunton and reach safety.
“It is going to go down to the wire, but if we maintain the momentum we have I am confident we will be here next season,” said Dollow.
“There are still some improvements to make, but we are getting better every game.
“We could have bowled better against Paignton and were a few runs short. Overall we made progress and I am happy we are moving in the right direction.”
Paignton’s run-in includes leaders Exeter and fourth-placed Plympton, plus relegation worriers Braunton and Plymstock.
Their current three-point lead over Cornwood in the scrap for the second promotion place isn’t enough for skipper Kingdon to feel comfortable.
“I think there are a lot more twist and turns to come for the teams chasing promotion and also fighting relegation,” said Kingdon.
On the win over Shobrooke he added: “Shobrooke batted well yesterday and at one point were on for a big score,
“Credit to Phil Allen and Brady for an important last 12 overs when we managed to pick up seven wickets.
All the batsman chipped it. Chris Kelmere got his runs quickly, which brought the game home.”

SKIPPER Jon Tipper and Merrick Steward saw Exeter over the hump and on to a two-wicket win against Brixham which puts the long-time A Division leaders in touching distance of promotion.
Matt Stringfellow hit a top score of 73 – he and Richard Ward shared a stand of 60 – a Brixham pottered along to 169 all out.
Stringfellow was seventh out on 173 – one of five scalps claimed by Callum Still (5-40).
It looked like stroll in the park for Exeter, who were 95 for one thanks to Rob Holman (47) and Miles Lenygon (47) and 157 for three after Still got out for 30.
Then it went pear-shaped. Wickets tumbled to Rhys Dallow (3-10), Lee Upham (3-71 and skipper Mark Orchard (2-21).
It was a different story at 165 for eight, but Tipper and Stewards stayed calm.
In a bizarre ending Exeter won the game in extras – two no-balls, a wide and a leg-bye wiping out the last four needed.
Exeter top the table on 226 poins and are 43 clear of third-placed Cornwood in a division with two promotion places.
If Exeter defeat bottom side South Devon this Saturday, they can clinch promotion.
“I would like to think we can do it, but you should never take anything for granted,” said Tipper.
“One minute we were cruising against Brixham – a few loose shots later we are backs to the wall.
“For 90 per cent of the game we played superbly, but it is the ten per cent when we didn’t we have to guard against.
“Our last four games are against teams battling to stay up – Braunton and South Devon – and Paignton and Cornwood who both want to get up. Nothing will be easy.”
Brixham’s promotion aspirations are just about dead and buried now, although Orchard hasn’t run up the white flag.
“Looking at the fixtures others above us have a tough run in, so there is still hope in the camp,” said Orchard.
On Exeter he added: “They proved they are a class side. Strangled us when batting and fielded as the best side I've seen.
“They started off like a rocket when batting, but credit to our boys for getting some pride back and making Exeter work with the bat for the second time this season.
“Another 10-20 runs and result may have been different.”

SOUTH Devon had the best of a drawn game against Braunton at Marsh Road to drag the Kelseymen into the relegation mire.
Hammad Ul-Hassan top scored for South Devon with 64 before he was last man out in a tally of 211 for six.
Tom Carter made 38 – he and Dave Knowles put on 59 – and there was a bright and breezy 24 from Ian Shepherd.
Andy Paddison (3-50) was the pick of the Bruanton bowlers.
Jaz Kalsi (53) was Braunton’s lynchpin when they batted, but lacked worthwhile support.
As Carter (2-36), Knowles (2-43) and Ali Wright (2-10) wheeled away, Braunton slowed from 142 for three to 166 for eight.
Paddison’s 31 was crucial holding it together for Bruanton, who ran out of time at 170 fr eight.
South Devon remain 41 points away from safety and only a minor miracle can save them from the drop.
“We've drawn closer but we are well aware of the challenges ahead in the last four games,” said skipper Hewings.
“We need to be on top of our game to compete and give ourselves a chance of beating the drop.”
Bruanton are one place and 23 points clear of the second drop spot, currently occupied by Shobrooke Park.
With all the top three clubs to play on the run in, Braunton could be in for a nail-biter.

CORNWOOD skipper Craig Harris believes his side are back in the promotion reckoning after a second derby win.
Hard on the heels of the 127-run triumph over Plymstock, the Corns dispatched Plympton by seven wickets, despite the absence of Pakistani Test star Mohammad Salman, who has had to return home for a tournament.
Cornwood now sit third in the table on 183 points, just three behind second-in-the table Paignton..
Mike Wood (4-32) and Andy Bees (4-22) put the skids under Plympton, who were all out for 90 in a rain-reduced 39-over game. Amer Hayat (21) was second best behind extras (28) in the run stakes.
Cornwood had a brief wobble at the start - they were 21 for three – but Harris (24no) and Mark Horwell (26no) ensured there were no slip ups.
“We knew it would be a challenge without Sal and a couple of our other regulars, but what we have shown is that we have the ability to get results as a team,” said Harris.
“The guys were fully entitled to enjoy the day, and now we push on to next week against Braunton.
“With only four games to go it is still tight at the top and we need all the point we can get.”
Harris said the game was won and lost in the field by getting Cornwood out cheaply.
“Our bowlers were great and were backed up by some brilliant fielding,” said Harris.
“We turned important half chances in to wickets early on and when we had them five or six down it gave us belief that we could do the job.
“We did let a couple of chances slip at the back end of the innings but keeping them under 100 was a real team effort.”
While Cornwood contemplate going up, Plympton are just about resigned to another season out of the top flight.
“I think our promotion push could nearly be over,” said Plympton captain Andy Walter.
“We never performed anywhere near our expected high standards.
“Cornwood fielded really well, but we gave them wickets by playing bad shots.
“In the field we gave them 20 wides and six no-balls which isn't good enough when you're defending 200 let alone 90!
“It was very disappointing day and the guys need to take a look at their own game to improve for the last four matches.”
PLYMSTOCK eased their relegation worries significantly thanks to a seven-wicket win over visiting Abbotskerswell,
There were four wickets each for skipper Dave Orchard (4-41) and Hallam Kerton (4-47) as Abbots were bowled out for 171 – no one making more than Josh Dowling (41).
Dan Robotham then hit 57 to lead Plymstock to a comfortable win with more than five overs to spare.
Victory hoists Plymstock four places off the bottom of the table and opens up a 32-point safety margin.
Orchard said Plymstock aren’t out of danger yet, but can see a path to safety.
“After our hammering at Cornwood last week we needed to sow some fight and that’s what we did,” said Orchard.
“Also, we have dragged Abbotskerswell down into the battle with us, which isn’t a bad thing.”
Only Mark Porter (28) and skipper Richard Lake (22) offered much support to Dowling as ball dominated bat during the Abbots’ innings.
Plymtock got away to a flier - they were 48 for none with Ollie Mulberry (25) and Matt Reynolds (22) well set – then lost three wickets for no runs. Lake took two of them.
Robotham steered Plymstock away from trouble.
Abbots are 34 points clear of the drop zone which means safety is in sight.
“We have to pull out all stops for next couple of game to get as many points as possible,” said skipper Richard Lake.
“There is a key game against Shobrooke coming up.
“Now is a great time for some of the youngsters to step up and get the experience they need.”