PAIGNTON pulled 12 points clear at the top of the A Division table after beating visiting Bradninch by 58 runs.

It was a top-of-the-table clash between two previously unbeaten teams – and Bradninch were hoping to erase the memory of a 156-run drubbing at Queens Park the last time the teams met there.

It didn’t go according to plan though as Paignton racked up 243 for four – Chris Kelmere and Richard Ashworth both making half-centuries – then bowled Bradnnich out for 185.

Paignton openers Dan Wolf and Connor Bryan helped the Seasiders to reach 59 for two, the Kelmere and Noah Wright got stuck into the bowling.

The pair put on 91 in a third-wicket stand that took the score up to 150. It ended when Kelmere got out for 71 off just 41 balls. He hit six sixes and five fours.

Wright (37) went soon afterwards, but there was no let off for Bradninch as Ashworth and Ollie Higgs kept the runs coming. Ashworth finished 53 not out and Higgs unbeaten on 31.

Wickets were hard to come by for Bradninch and economy was more important.

Spinner Gary Chappell opened the bowling and took one for 24 in 10 overs. Next best was left-armer Ross Acton with one for 22 in seven.

Bradninch lost opener Tom Bunker early – the first of five scalps for Paignton’s South African seamer Kevin Hinton – and wickets fell regularly as they laboured to 98 for 100 for six.

Skipper Tim Piper (45) and Cameron Suidgeest (48) put on 71 for the sixth wicket, but the damage had already been done.

Paignton brought back their opening bowlers to nip out Piper – Rob Shergold (2-52) got him – and after that it was downhill all the way.

The last four wickets went for just 14 runs with Hinton taking two more to finish with five for 32. Shergold and Wolf had two each.

Skipper Kelmere said Paignton had a ponit to make at Bradninch and accomplished thier mission.

“As a team we set out to make a statement against the self-proclaimed title favourites,” said Kelmere.

“Contributions from Noah, Ollie and Richard Ashworth took us to an above par total on an inconsistent pitch.

“In the field we were uncharacteristically sloppy and let far too many chances pass us by.

“However our abundance of quality and team spirit –and noteworthy bowling by Kevin Hinton - was enough to get us the victory.”