Plympton lose to fellow strugglers

PLYMPTON’S relegation worries down in the Premier Division basement intensified after they lost by 35 runs at home to fellow strugglers North Devon.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

PREMIER DIVISION 

The game was Plympton’s chance to put some distance between themselves and bottom side North Devon – and maybe get ahead of Paignton and out of the relegation spots at the same time.

It seemed Plympton were on course for only their third league win of the season after they shot-out North Devon for 101 with more than 15 overs un-bowled.

North Devon’s former county seamers Jack Popham and Josh King turned the game on its head by skirling Plympton for a measly 66 in less than 19 overs.

Instead of widening the gap between North Devon and themselves, it has now shrunk from 13 points to just two.

And Paignton remain six points ahead, which is a barely noticeable difference from the seven-point advantage they had on Saturday morning.

Jonty Walliker, the Plympton vicecaptain, acknowledged how well King and Popham bowled, but had a ‘however’ as well.

“We should never have let North Devon into the game, but we lost wickets in a cluster – and momentum is such a nice thing as a bowler,” said Walliker.

Plympton appeared to be on top all the way through the North Devon innings as wickets fell on a regular basis. North Devon neither had a partnership of more than 30, or a batter who made more than James Tyson (19).

Plympton’s bowlers shared the wickets around with two each for Jacob Caunter (2-13), Elliott Hamilton (2-3) and Craig Donohue, who had two for 11 from eight frugal overs.

Two run-outs among North Devon’s top five batters – Tyson and skipper Tom Popham – helped Plympton’s cause.

North Devon were already in trouble at 80 for five before losing four wickets for 14, which sealed their fate.