PAIGNTON were pushed off the top of the A Division table by a 65-run defeat at Hatherleigh.

Hatherleigh, winless since the opening day of the season, were led to 214 all out by a knock of 106 by opener Matt Thomas.

Paignton needed a partnership in the first five to be competitive – and at 98 for four they were just about in the game.

Rob Shergold and Carl Woolnough went at 106 and 108 respectively and from then on there was only going to be one winner.

Mark Lake, the Hatherleigh captain, felt Paignton were over-confident and paid the price.

“Paignton went really hard with the bat, but after the top three had gone we bowled really well and fully deserved to win the game,” said Lake.

“I think they thought they would just turn up and roll us over.

“Cricket has a funny way of biting you.”

Paignton started well enough with Kevin Hinton dismissing Hatherleigh opener Danny Forster in the first over.

Thomas and Gareth Tidball (24) put on 67 then Chris Jelley (30) and Thomas added another 71 to reach 138 for three with 20 overs to go.

Paignton’s breakthroughs were shared by Dan Wolf (4-39) and Connor Ashworth (2-50), but Thomas repeatedly eluded them.

Five overs out Wolf bowled Thomas for 106. Hatherleigh’s last four wickets went for 10 runs with Hinton (3-27) returning to pick off a couple.

“Matt batted really well and held the innings together,” said Lake.

“I was slightly disappointed we didn't get 30 more after the start we had.”

Paignton opener Noah Wright missed out, but Wolf (34), Chris Kelmere (23) and Ollie Higgs (28) all got in, got set and got out.

Jelley picked up three wickets as Paignton stumbled from 98 for three to 120 for seven.

Aaron Hearn (15) delayed the inevitable for a while, but when he went to Lake it didn’t take long to finish off Paignton for 149.