PLYMSTOCK’S plight at the bottom of the table deteriorated after they lost the basement battle with Brixham by 84 runs.

Brixham were winless and bottom prior to the game, but not anymore.

Inspired by the appearance of Somerset’s one-day captain James Allenby, making the second of seven scheduled appearances for them, Brixham traded places with Plymstock.

Brixham were 36 for two when Allenby was joined in the middle by Jason Oakes – and that was when Plymstock’s problems really began.

Allenby – 44 off 62 balls – upped the tempo and when he got out to Ian Whalley (2-42) there was no respite.

Oakes went on to make an unbeaten 103 off 122 balls – 11 fours and a six – in Brixham’s total of 208 for five. He reached his ton off the last ball of the innings.

Considering the quality of the batting – Oakes plays First Class cricket in South Africa for KwaZulu-Natal – Plymstock’s bowling stats stood up well.

Charles Martin (1-53) was the only bowler to go for significantly more than four an over.

Plymstock’s run chase was nobbled by Allenby, whose three for 15 off nine overs ket them well behind the clock.

Teddy Richards – 27 off 85 balls – showed the application to see off Allenby but was denied support as no one in the top seven made it into double figures.

There was a stand of 56 for the seventh wicket with Bronte Bess (44), but the game was up by then.

The end came quickly with Brixham’s Matt Parsons (4-32) performing the hat-trick – two caught, one lbw – to remove Richards, Sayed Ali and last man Whalley.

If Plymstock’s current position is worrying skipper Scott Mansfield, he is careful not to show it.

 “Some times you hold your hand up to events during the game and just admit defeat,” said Mansfield.

“Jim Allenby showed why he's contracted with Somerset and his class showed.

“Allenby then bowled with great control and swung the ball with ways and proved to much for our batsman.  

“Teddy Richards showed the others how to do it and a brief onslaught from Bronte Bess put us in with a chance.

“Yet again our batsman just didn't perform. “

Mansfield said a positive note is Plymstock get into commanding positions at times and now need to join up the dots.

“We still have a long way to go to correct our performances,” he said.

“We will come good, I'm more than confident of that.”

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