Plympton's shock victory gives hope of staying up

PLYMPTON moved closer to safety in the Tolchards DCL Premier Division after registering an unlikely 23-run win over Heathcoat.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

PREMIER DIVISION 

Plympton's odds did not look great after they were bowled out for 96, no one making more than skipper Alex Carr with a valuable 28 down the order.

Heathcoat got to 46 for one without too many problems... then collapsed like a pack of cards. Nine wickets tumbled for 27 runs scored as Heathcoat were skittled for 73.

Plympton (137pts) remain in the bottom two, but are only a point behind Bovey Tracey (138), whose defeat in the basement battle with North Devon (116) deepened their relegation worries.

Ben Privett (19) and Jonty Walliker (11) were the only batters in Plympton's top six to make it into double figures.

Carr, who went in at 37 for five, batted time to repair some of the damage done by Jamie Drew (4-15).

Dylan Penberthy-Hutchings counted Carr as one of his victims in a three for 23 haul.

Penberthy-Hutchings (24) and Ed Butler (16) got Heathcoat up and running, but once Tino Mutombodzi (3-21) split them the decline started.

No one else made more than nine and four batters did not manage a run between them as Heathcoat crumbled to Jacob Caunter (4-12) and Surya Suresh (2-1).

CORNWOOD'S top-of-the-table tussle with Sidmouth was called-off due to bad weather, which did then no favours at all in the title race.

Ten points for a cancellation meant leaders Sandford extended their lead at the top by eight additional points by taking 18 off Bradninch & Kentisbeare.

Cornwood sit second in the latest table with 23 points to find to get ahead of Sandford in the last four games of the summer. The two sides meet on the last day of the season, by when it might just be too late for Cornwood to catch-up.

A DIVISION