PLYMOUTH remain in the Premier Division bottom two following a 71-run defeat at Exmouth.

Exmouth made 239 for seven in their 50 overs – former Devon captain Bob Dawson top scoring on 96.

Plymouth collapsed from 121 for three to 129 for seven and on to 168 all out as their chase fell apart.

Victory lifts Exmouth into second place and leaves Plymouth one off the bottom, where they trail Cornwood by six points in the fight to stay up.

Acting captain Hamish Gardiner said Plymouth had a good first half, but a poor second session.

“I thought we bowled and fielded well to restrict them to 239 despite it being a low wicket,” said Gardiner.

“There were a couple of half chances in that which we failed to take again, which may have turned the game in our favour.

“We were still confident chasing, knowing that it would only take one batsmen to go on an make 80-100 and two decent partnerships.

“Unfortunately no one managed to come to terms with the uneven bounce and slow nature of the wicket as we lost regular wickets.”

Exmouth made a patchy start as openers Sandy Allen and David Lye went before the total reached double figures.

Left-hander Dan Pyle swished 74 off 78 balls as Exmouth stepped on the gas.

Pyle and Dawson got the score up to 135 for four when the stand was broken by Dan Goodey (2-53).

Dawson carried on batting until the last over, dominating stands of 70 with Richard Baggs (13) and 34 with George Greenway (8).

With two balls to go Dawson was dismissed four balls short of a century by Hal Kerton.

Jack Hale and Goodey had two wickets each for Plymouth. Veteran Dave Burke bowled nine overs for 22 runs.

Plymouth needed an anchorman in the Dawson mould if they were going to chase down the runs, but no one made more than opener Anthony Atkinson (40).

Gardiner (31) and Atkinson (40) put on 57 for the third wicket, which was as good as it got for Plymouth.

The game got away from Plymouth during the time it took to slide from 121 for four to 138 for eight – Aaron Paul (2-29) and David Lye (3-25) doing most of the damage.

Tail-enders Goodey  and Henry Bennett resisted for a while, but a two-wicket burst from Dawson wrapped things up.