CODY Gertze took four wickets and Kazi Szymanski had three more to set Torquay on course for victory over North Devon.
North Devon were bowled out for 106 in the 33rd of their 50 overs – and were fortunate to get as many as that.
Gertze did most of the damage as North Devon were reduced to 27 for five.
Devon all-rounder Josh King spared North Devon blushes with a quickfire 43 – nine fours, 27 balls – to stave off total collapse.
Jack Popham made 18. No one else made more than eight.
Torquay raced to victory inside 15 overs – led their by Mitch Pugh with 49.
Pugh and Gertze (29) got the first 65 out of the way, George Allen (18no) and skipper Justin Yau (11no) took care of the rest.
Six an over was the going rate for North Devon’s bowlers, although Popham and Steffan James did have the consolation of a wicket each.
Torquay sit fifth in the current table, although they may not get to keep the points from this win, their fourth on the trot.
Torquay’s decision to pull out of the 2nd XI game at North Devon carries the potential penalty of losing any points gained by the 1st XI and 3rd XI if they played on the same day. They did.
Skipper Yau is leaving the governance issues to the committee. As far as the cricket goes, he couldn’t be happier having seen his side clamber up the table from the bottom two.
“I am really proud of the lads and the way we are playing our cricket,” said Yau.
“Our team spirit and cohesion is as good as it has ever been and everyone is putting their necks on the line for one another.
“We have won four on the bounce in the league and three in a row in T20s - so effectively we have won seven games straight.
“It's a great achievement on the basis of where we were four weeks ago.
“We will continue to keep playing the positive cricket we have been playing.
“We would run through brick walls for one another which is why we have turned the season around.”
Even if Torquay are penalised with a points deduction, the result will stand. All North Devon will see is their three losing bonus points.
Ed Yeo, the North Devon captain and a former Torquay player, said the points issue shouldn’t obscure a disappointing performance from his side.
“It was a day to forget, said Yeo.
“It was a big wake-up call to our players that we need to start performing.”
Defeat drops North Devon within nine points and one place of the drop spots, not that Yeo is too worried.
“There is a long way to go so we aren't panicking,” said Yeo.
“We will be training Wednesday, as always, and putting things back on track.”
