Plymouth drop down the table after big loss at Paignton

HAFFENDEN TOP SCORES WITH 65 AT QUEEN'S PARK BUT THE CITY CLUB ARE BOWLED OUT FOR JUST 165

- By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

PLYMOUTH dropped within three points of the Premier Division drop zone following a seven-wicket pasting at Paignton.

Skipper Teddy Haffenden top scored on 65 for Plymouth before they were bowled out for 158 with an over to go.

Skipper Haffenden said losing the toss 'wasn't a great start' but said there was more to the result than the toss of a coin.

“We just weren't able to build enough solid partnerships, and never really gave ourselves the chance to accelerate by continually losing wickets,” said Haffenden.

“Aya and Harry Wardy made the most of a tricky surface and got them on top in the power play.

“When we got Aya out we felt we were in the game, but Harry and Ollie Woodcock played the situation really well.

“Not our best display but fair play to Paignton: they were the better side overall.”

Paignton lost wickets at 17, 41 and 50 on the way up to second place in the latest Premier table.

Plymouth are just two places and three points ahead of second-from-bottom Tavistock as the season fast approaches the halfway stage.

Haffenden went in when Plymouth were 17 for three having just lost Jonty Rapulana for a second-ball 'duck' to Aya Gqamana (3-23), who had taken every wicket to fall at that point.

Haffenden was the ninth man out with the score on 156. He faced 112 balls and hit just five boundaries.

Haffenden's only worthwhile support came from Hemu Hirani (20) and Ollie Parsons (24) during stands of 47 and 53 respectively.

Rory Medlock finally spun out Haffenden on his way to a four-for-40 haul.

Two wickets for Dan Goodey and a Hirani run-out accounted for Paignton openers Luke Medlock, Noah Wright and Gqamana.

Paignton captain Harry Ward (39no) and Ollie Woodcock (67no) were in no hurry to risk squandering batting bonus points during the hour and a half Plymouth tried and failed to break them up.