LEADERS Paignton did not hang about on the way to a 10-wicket win over lowly Lewdown.
There was no sign of the carnage to come as Lewdown openers Dave Ball (38) and Ollie Brown (35) put on 82 without loss.
Rory Medlock broke the stand by dismissing Brown, Sam Woodcock accounted for Ball nine runs later and after that Lewdown collapsed in a heap.
Medlock spun his way to bowling figures of six for 13 and Woodcock (4-13) dealt with the rest as Lewdown crashed to 103 all out.
Medlock now has 30 league wickets this season at an average below 10 runs each. Woodcock is right behind him with 29 at 15.76.
Jason Woodcock, Sam’s father, and Joel Ashworth scored 50 and 44 not out respectively as Paignton knocked off the runs inside 15 overs.
Paignton are already guaranteed one of the three promotion places, but face a fight to the finish with Hatherleigh 2nd XI for the title of champions.
SOUTH Devon could be one more win away from promotion out of the D Division West after they won by 32 runs at Plympton.
South Devon took the scenic route to a 40-over total of 193 for eight on a wet day at Harewood Park.
Openers James Allen (26) and Ali Wright got them to 64 for two, but a wicket-taking burst from Milly Squire (3-34) and Matt Draper (2-45) sent South Devon to 72 for four then 87 for five.
Kalen Warne celebrated his 1st XI recall with a dogged 52 off 65 balls and his stands of 68 with Dillip Salinda (25) and 31 with Richard Beaumont (17) got South Devon moving.
Plympton were going well on the chase at one stage and at 70 for one with 20 overs to go had South Devon rattled.
What Plympton could not do was keep up with the asking rate and the slowed to 161 for nine. Ollie Goulder (33) and Jonty Walliker (33) were joint top scorers.
Salinda (3-29) and Joe Kitto (2-18) were South Devon’s breakthrough bowlers.
The bonus for South Devon was that chasers Chelston & Kingskerwell were unable to play at Kenn and only earned six points.
South Devon are now 38 points clear of Chelston and 44 in front of fifth-placed Ipplepen 2nd XI.
A win over Ipplepen at Marsh Road this Saturday will end their challenge once and for all and leave just a handful of points needed to finish ahead of Chelston & Kingskerswell.
Plympton are 10-points clear of Lewdown in the third relegation spot and have three games to keep it that way.
The game between Plymouth CS&R and Whitchurch was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
HATHERLEIGH 2nd XI strengthened their position in the D West top three with a hefty 120-run win over fading promotion contenders Ipplepen 2nd XI.
Skipper Danny Forrester top scored for Hatherleigh with 59 – he and Adam Quick (35) put on 86 for the second wicket – and Eddie Jones made 29 in a 35-over total of 164 for nine.
Matt Abbott (3-38) was Pens’ leading bowler.
Ipplepen were all out for just 44 before the 18th over was completed. Jabez Weale (4-17) reduced the home side to 24 for four then Jones (3-0) and the Presswell brothers accounted for the rest.
Hatherleigh are second behind leaders Paignton and will be promoted if they beat Chelston & Kingskerswell this Saturday.
CHELSTON & Kingskerswell’s game against Kenn was called off without a ball bowled.
