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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11

PAIGNTON beat Barton by nine-wickets in the last Meek Mortgages Twenty20 group game to set up another meeting with Torquay in the final.

   Barton, who could have qualified had they won the game, opted to bat first and were bowled out for 112 in the last of their 20 overs.

   Nick Watkin (23) and Imran Abbas (13) put on 35 for the second Barton wicket then Haydn Morgan (36) batted through until he was ninth out when the total was 108.

   Paignton shared the wicket-taking around with Liam Bryan, Riaan Jeggels and Stephen George all taking two each.

   Paignton didn't hang about knocking off the runs and looked like doing it without losing a wicket.,

   Openers Gavin Ewing (71no) and Seb Benton (32) reached 98, leaving Josh Fitton (1no) to watch from the other end as Ewing finished the job with more than five overs to spare.

   This year's competition, played for the Bob Parker Cup, has been dogged by bad weather with two of the six qualifying games called off.

   Competition organisers will be hoping the weather stays fine for next Wednesday night's final at Barton, in which Paignton will be aiming to win the cup for the third year running.

   For the first two seasons Paignton were unbeatable and disposed of Torquay in successive finals.

   Torquay will be gunning for revenge this time round and will fancy their chances having already defeated Paignton by 19 runs in the qualifying rounds.

   Barton 112 (N Watkin 23, H Morgan 36, J Porter 13, Imran Abbas 13; L Bryan 2-25, R Jeggels 2-20, S George 2-20), Paignton 116-1 (G Ewing 71no, S Benton 32). Paignton bt Barton by 9 wkts.