Paignton do Exmouth a huge favour by defeating Premier leaders Bradninch & Kentisbeare | 'Overall, this was our best win of the season, against a very strong side' – Paignton captain Harry Ward

PAIGNTON may be out of contention for the Premier Division title, but could have had a role in who wins it by beating long-time leaders Bradninch & Kentisbeare.

Bradninch & Kentisbeare set Paignton 203 to win, which they got with five wickets in hand and more than six overs to spare.

Realistically, Paignton (239pts) are too far behind Bradninch & Kentisbeare to catch them now. The real beneficiaries are Exmouth, whose win over Exeter moved them within five points of the leaders.

Exmouth entertain Bradninch & Kentisbeare on the Maer Ground this Saturday in a game that has ‘title decider’ daubed all over it.

Gary Chappell, the Bradninch & Kentisbeare captain, said: “The game against Exmouth is now a massive one and likely to determine the league winner.

“It's what we play the game for and we're all looking forward to it.”

After Dan Hardy had been and gone for 26 in a running total of 75 for four, Mitch Pugh (81) and Malusi Siboto (32) took B&K towards an all-out tally of 202. Pugh was the last man out to Paignton’s Luke Medlock (3-16). 

Paignton’s Aya Gqamana (3-43) reached 50 Premier wickets for the season when he cleaned-out tail-ender Joe Gillett.

Opener Medlock (26) and Noah Wright (30) took Paignton to 54 without loss in the 11th over – a decent start.

Losing three wickets getting from 54 to 64 was a minor setback that Gqamana (25) and Ollie Woodcock (46) rectified by putting on 49.

A stand of 60 between Woodcock and skipper Harry Ward (46no) had the game parcelled up. Archie Farkins was ten not out at the other end when Ward put Andy Buzza away for four to win it.

Ward, the winning captain, said the bowling unit deserved credit for keeping Bradninch & Kentisbeare to 202.

“On probably the best batting wicket we’ve played on all year, they stuck to their plans, kept the run rate under control, and were backed up superbly by the fielding,” said Ward.

“Once again, we lost the toss —only won two this year — and were asked to field yet again. But the whole bowling unit of Aya, Charlie, Rory, Georgie, Luke, Woody, and Archie rose to the challenge brilliantly.

“Mitch batted very well for Bradninch, as he always seems to do against us, but to restrict them to 200 when 250 looked par was a top effort and a reflection of the graft the lads put in.”

Turning to the Paignton chase, Ward said: “Noah and Luke gave us the perfect platform – their seventh 50 partnership in just 11 games,” said Ward. “Ollie then played a classy and mature knock to guide us home.

“Overall, this was our best win of the season, against a very strong side — and even more special that it was done with 10 home-grown Paignton lads.

Chappell was respectful in his post-match comments when he said: “Paignton outperformed us in every discipline. 

“Ultimately we didn't get enough runs, but were still probably only a wicket away from winning it for long periods.

“Harry Ward and Ollie Woodcock played really well and chased it down in a mature and controlled manner.”