PLYMOUTH are up to third in the Premier Division table after beating Paignton by 51 runs in a low-scoring affair at Mount Wise.
Faizan Riaz top scored for Plymouth with 74 in a total of 142 all out, a total that didn’t look as if it would be enough.
Paignton were worked over by paceman Sam Stein and Dan Goodey, who reduced them to 10 for three in the first five overs They limped from 33 for four to 59 for eight and on to 91 all out in the 35th over.
It was comprehensive enough in the end, but Plymouth were indebted to Riaz for digging them out of a hole.
“Faz applied himself brilliantly and showed again he will be a huge asset this year,” said skipper Stein.
“The track had a bit in it early, but that was to be expected after the weather we had in the week.”
Joe Hagan-Burt (10) and Joe Walsh (18) made a sold start that took Plymouth to 41 for one.
Wickets tumbled to George Yates (3-22) as the Plymouth middle-order imploded, not helped by a couple or run-outs.
Plymouth were an unimpressive 67 for seven in the 23rd over after Yates trapped Goodey lbw.
“George Yates bowled a great spell in the middle overs,” said Paignton skipper Richard Ashworth.
Riaz then did the professional’s job of wringing as many runs out of the tail-enders as he could.
Stands of 36 with skipper Stein (8) and 33 with Dave Burke (5) proved crucial in the context of a low-scoring game.
Stein (2-5) picked-off Noah Wright and opposite number Richard Ashworth as Paignton labored to get under way. Losing Ollie Higgs to Goodey’s first ball didn’t help either.
Dan Wolf (12) and Connor Bryan (17) hung around for a while, but Goodey (2-22) broke the stand when he removed Bryan and Wolf was spun out by Riaz (2-21).
Riaz and Fahad Ali mowed through the lower order until last pair Yates (15) and George Benton (12no) put up a bit of fight.
Their partnership of 26 – Paignton’s best of the innings – ended when Hal Kerton bowled Yates.
A happy Stein said: “Overall another good win, but we will have to go up a gear when we play Bovey next.”
Bovey made it three wins on the trot in the latest round of fixtures when they defeated defending champions Sidmouth.
A theme in Paignton’s first three games is they are bowling sides out, but struggling to make totals.
Richard Ashworth, the Paignton captain, isn’t about to panic just yet as there are other factors at work.
“I think we let ourselves down again with the bat,” said Ashworth.
“A little bit more determination was needed, but it was always going to be a challenge chasing down that total on a very poor wicket.
“There were still plenty of positives to take from the game.
“It's still very early in the season and our fielding and bowling are good at the moment.
“We know that once we start to click with the bat we will start to win some more games.”
Ashworth said one innings was the difference between winning and losing at Plymouth.
“Riaz played a very good innings and was the only real difference between the two sides,” said Ashworth.
“If we had got him out early it would have been a different game.”
