Plymstock prevail in crunch basement battle

CORNWOOD'S losing run in the Premier Division continued with a 99-run drubbing by Exeter on the County Ground.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

PREMIER DIVISION

Exeter, fresh from chasing 291 to win at Paignton, picked up where they left off seven days earlier by totting-up 328 for eight in the full 50 overs.

Openers Eddie Steele (78) and Charlie Clist (32) got off to a 67-run start. By the time Steele was caughtand-bowled by Ben Privett the running total was 160 for three.

Fin Hill, batting second wicket down for Exeter, put on 90 with Steele and was involved in stands worth 201 before Josiah Caunter prised him out on 112. The main partnership was one of 90 with Sam Read (40).

Matt Skeemer (1-30 off 10) was Cornwood's most economical bowler. Naveen Fernando (4-45) was the most effective.

Cornwood received an early going over from Exeter skipper and paceman Joe Gore. He took all the wickets to tumble in a progressive score of 28 for four.

Privett spared further blushes by batting his way to a century while wickets fell at the other end.

Privett was ninth out on 222 for a run-a-ball 104. Thirty-eight extras and 26 for James Richardson were the best of the other contributions.

Hill (2-10) finally spun-out Privett with Gore (5-52) coming back near the end, Cornwood were all out for 229.

It was Cornwood's third straight| defeat on the way down to sixth in the table.

Elliott Staddon, the Cornwood captain, said there is a pattern to the losses.

"On a flat deck and quick outfield, Exeter batted very, very well and in the chase we lost too many early wickets up top," said Staddon.

"Positives to take were Ben Privett's chanceless 100. If we can get a bit more form around that we can start to really get at these chases."

PLYMPTON plummeted to a 10-wicket defeat against Exmouth that effectively consigned them to relegation from the Tolchards DCL Premier Division.

Exmouth bowled Plympton out for 118, which they knocked off in just 11 overs to win the game at a gallop.