Hatherleigh and Plympton could be going in opposite directions after latest round of results | Five wickets and 96 runs for Ghosh (pictured) pave way for victory

HATHERLEIGH closed in on a return to Premier Division cricket with a 16-run win over relegation worriers Plympton.

A combination of their win over Plympton, and a defeat for third-placed Thorverton at Cullompton, has given second-in-the-table Hatherleigh a 28-point advantage over the chasers.

One more win will almost certainly be enough to send Hatherleigh back to the top flight after a four-year absence. 

Although Barton are mathematically relegated as a consequence of their home defeat by Bridestowe & Belstone, any one of Plympton (138pts), Torquay & Kingskerswell (156) and even B&B (165) at a push, could be going with them.

Plympton pay a visit to Torquay & Kingskerswell this Saturday. No prizes for guessing how skipper Harry Kandampully views that game in advance.

“It is a must-win game if we are going to stay up,” said Kandampully.

Shrey Ghosh, Hatherleigh’s Indian professional, made a top score of 96 towards a team total of 270 for seven.

Plympton had not seen the last of Ghosh either as he went on to take a match-winning five-wicket haul to send them spinning to 124 all out.

Plympton got a dream start when Callum Williams dismissed Hatherleigh opener Ryan Qick with the first ball of the game, but all that achieved was bringing in Ghosh sooner rather than later!

Stands of 58 between Ghosh and Rob Cockwill (16) then Ryan Davies (24) got Hatherleigh up to 149 for two. Alex Carr removed Ghosh with a ton in sight, which slowed the run-rate. Wickets for Ollie Goulder (3-44) helped

Emmerson Wood (23) and in particular Gareth Tidball (42no) upped the pace in the last 10 overs.

An opening burst from Hatherleigh seamer Ruben Forrester (3-21) took out most of Plympton’s top order, with the exception of Elliot Hamilton (28).

Ghosh, who took five for 14 from 10 overs, and Wood (2-25) worked their way down the Plympton batting order.

There was resistance from Manny Motswiri (28) and former skipper Carr (22) , as well as lengthy stays from Williams and Billy Pitman, but from 93 for six onwards it was only a question of time.

Rob Cockwill, the Hatherleigh captain, said losing Quick so soon was a setback but not a disaster.

“We re-grouped well and built partnerships throughout,” said Cockwill.

“Shrey was a stand-out for us and really deserved a hundred to go with his five wickets..

“Gareth scored some very handy lower-order runs to put us in a commanding position going into the second innings.”

Cockwill said the writing was on the wall for Plympton after Forrester tore into them with the new ball.

“After that there was only going to be one winner and Plympton just looked to accumulate as many batting points as they could,” said Cockwill.

Said Kandampully: “Hatherleigh  were too good for us on the day.

“Shrey’s batting was class and he probably deserved a 100. 

“I thought we did well to restrict them to 270 on a flat deck.”

On what Plympton need to do batter, Kandampully said: “Our batting is letting us down at the moment.”