MATT Rudston conjured up a personal best of six wickets for 28 runs as Heathcoat routed defending Premier champions Torquay by 140 runs.

Heathcoat, who opted to bat first at the Recreation Ground, eased along to 256 for eight with opener and captain Brad Barnes making a top score of 64.

Torquay reached 52 for none in reply when Matt Hague removed opener Mitch Pugh for 18 – then collapsed in a heap!

Five wickets went for 15 runs added with Rudston doing all of the damage.

Torquay skipper Justin Yau was stranded at the non-striker’s end as wickets tumbled at the other.

Yau was still there on 38 not out at the end, which came in the 25th over when last man Matt Petherbridge was caught behind off Jamie Drew.

Heathcoat’s innings was an altogether different affair, underpinned by an opening stand of 95 between Barnes and Toby Lochead (47).

Torquay’s front-end seamers enjoyed little success, although the return of Ben Williams after injury was a bonus for them.

Pugh (2-33) kept it tight and spinners Petherbridge (2-33) and Sach Galhenage (2-38) contained well too.

Pete Randerson (35) kept the middle order ticking over, then Dinesh Raheja (40) and Drew (18) added 45 for the sixth wicket.

Victory lifts Heathcoat to third in the table, where they are 30 points behind leaders Sidmouth.

Torquay are now closer to the bottom than the top as they are just 13 points clear of the relegation places.

Skipper Justin Yau said the batters need to ask themselves a few questions after this defeat.

“We dragged it back well after Heathcoat got off to a flyer and to restrict them to 256 was a pretty good effort on a very good wicket,” said Yau.

“Our batting self-destructed. Having been 54-0 to  then lose 10 wickets for 60 odd runs was inexcusable.

“It is very difficult to put my finger on what went wrong but our shot selection was extremely poor.

“Heathcoat bowled well and fully deserved to win and we have to pick ourselves back up and go again.”