PAIGNTON had victory snatched from their grasp by Barton in a Cricketfield Road thriller that ended in a tie.

Barton were all out for 211 in the last of their rain-adjusted 49 overs – Mark Gilmour and Greg Shelton both making half-centuries.

When Paignton were 85 for five, Jamie Peters among the wickets, Barton looked favourites to win it.

At 205 for eight with three overs to go and Rob Shergold on 57 not out, Paignton looked the likely winners.

Enter man of the match Gilmour to nip out Shergold and tail-ender George Yates to leave it all square.

Former Barton captain Andy Hele, enjoying a new lease of life opening the batting, said it was a cracking game full of talking points.

“For us to recover from three for two and 48 for four to make 211 was largely down to two great half-centuries,” said Hele, who chipped in with a handy 21.

“Mark Gilmour and Greg Shelton - surprisingly his first half-century in the league - both hit the ball very well.

“At 85 for five we knew we had Paignton in some trouble but Rob Shergold batted really well and with some powerful hitting from Chris Kelmere (31) they kept themselves right in it, despite good spells of spin from Jamie Peters (2-27) and Stuart Bowker.

“Paignton bat all the way down and at 205 for eight should have got over the line.

“Back came Gilly to bowl Shergold with one that kept a bit low, and with the scores level and the field up Gilly found the edge of George Yates' bat and the safe hands of Shaun Needham at slip did the rest.”