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FRIDAY, JULY 18

VETERAN all-rounder Tim Ward was named man of the match as Paignton swept to a 52-run win over Torquay in Friday night's Meek Morrtgages-sponsored Torbay T20 Cup final.

   Paignton, who were put in, made an impressive 158 for three in their 20 overs with opener Seb Benton leading the way.

   Benton clouted 66 off 65 balls with three fours and a six and shared in a stand of 74 in seven overs with Kobus Pienaar, who belted 38 off 21 balls.

   The end came for Benton when he was brilliantly run out at the bowler's end by Usman Malvi after good work by Torquay keeper Seamus McKenna.

   Along the way there were some painful overs for Torquay. Joe Crooks(18), Jon Rice (10) and Joe Thompson (15) were given the treatment as Paignton went from 65 to 116 for one in just 18 balls.

   Getting rid of Benton didn't slow the run rate as Ward thrashed 20 not out off 14 balls.

   Torquay were all out for 106 with 10 balls to, having found it hard keeping up with the asking rate after their first three got out.

   Tim Western, who scored 40 off 38 balls with two fours and two sixes, was still there at the halfway mark when Torquay were 75 for three and still in the hunt.

   Ward had just been brought into the attack and, after an over to loosen up, he struck twice in successive balls to remove the two Joes – Thompson and Crooks.

   Western and McKenna went one after the other in Ward's next over, but again the hat-trick eluded him. However, Ward will have been happy enough with figures of four for 23 in a winning cause.

   As the light faded so did Torquay, who have now lost four successive finals against Paignton in this competition.

   Paignton will be back at Torquay next month for the Twenty20 county finals on Sunday, August 17.

   Paignton 158-3 (S Benton 66, K Pienaar 38, T W Ward 20no), Torquay 106 (T Western 40; T W Ward 4-23). Paignton bt Torquay by 52 runs.