Ton-up Medlock (pictured) at it again for Paignton in win over Sandford | 'Back-to-back hundreds in Premier Cricket is a massive achievement' – Harry Ward

PAIGNTON defeated Sandford by 42 runs to remain a point behind Bradninch & Kentisbeare at the top of the table.

Opener Luke Medlock reeled off his second successive Premier Division century in a Paignton total of 294 for nine. Having taken 112 off Exmouth seven days earlier, Medlock went on to a career-best 132.

Medlock was involved in an opening stand of 101 with Noah Wright (22) and added a further 160 with Charlie Ward (24), Ayabulela Gqamana, Neil Hancock and Ollie Woodcock before he was sixth out on 261.

“Luke was outstanding once again,” said Harry Ward, the Paignton captain. “Back-to-back hundreds in Premier Cricket is a massive achievement. Hopefully, the county selectors are taking notice.”

Bowling breakthroughs were hard to come by until the final 10 overs when Jamie Palmer (2-45) and Byron Knowles (4-45) had some success. 

Sandford topped-up the total with 49 extras. The number of wides and no-balls bowled added up to three extra overs, never mind the 38 sundries given away.

“Luke led the way, but credit to the whole batting unit,” said Ward. “Everyone chipped in around him to build a strong total.”

Losing Devon duo Adam Small and Lawrence Walker in the first three overs of the chase to Gqamana (4-21 did Sandford no favours. And when Ryan Hunter fell to Rory Medlock (2-37), they were 54 for three.

Jackson Thompson (63 off 38 balls) and Aryan Lakra (98) revived the chase. While Lakra hung around the game was wide open. He and Praison Alias, Sandford’s England-qualified former Kerala under-23 player, jogged along to 252 for seven in the 42nd over.

The turning point was the departure of 1st XI debutant Alias to a run-out engineered by Paignton captain Harry Ward. He had contributed a run-a-ball 52 to a stand of 155 with Lakra.

Sandford did not score another run as Gqamana took two more wickets four balls apart to win it for Paignton.

Ward said it was a game that swung this way then that before reaching its conclusion.

“Jackson came out hard, but our boys stuck to their plans,” said Ward.

“Aryan and Praison batted really well and looked like they might take the game away from us.

“We managed to create something from nothing and pull off a great win.”

It was Sandford’s third defeat in four outings – Plymouth away is the odd-on out – and leaves last season’s runners-up lagging 47 points behind early leaders and defending champions Bradninch & Kentisbeare.

Skipper Thompson was crystal clear where it all went wrong for Sandford this time. 

“We bowled too many extras, which was very poor,” said Thompson. 

“Amongst that mayhem, Jamie Palmer bowled really well and showed his experience. Luke Medlock batted superbly and the best I have seen him play. 

“Two quick wickets falling early meant made the chase even more difficult.

“Aryan and Praison played a blinder together and kept us in the hunt. But, in the end, those extras and early loss of wickets came back to haunt us.”