Seaton bounce back from first defeat with victory over Plympton | 'We had to find a way to win ugly, and that’s exactly what we did' – Tim Doulton

Pictured: Seaton opener Kai Croft, whose made 68 against Plympton

PLYMPTON gave B Division leaders Seaton plenty to think about before they were consigned to a 32-run defeat.

Seaton were looking for a bounce-back win after losing their unbeaten record to Bideford last time out, and jogged along to 267 for seven as a statement of intent.

Plympton gave the chase a real go, Shalok Gangatkar (36) among those prominent, but ran into double trouble in the shape of the Doulton brothers, who ran through their middle and lower order.

Tim Doulton, the Seaton captain, finished with four for 36 in two spells. James had two for 28as Plympton bowed out with four balls to go for 235.

That’s two losses in a row for Plympton, who have fallen from second to fourth in the process.

Seaton’s innings was constructed on a second-wicket stand of 158 between opener Kai Croft (69) and Damian Baxter (77). There was a brief lull as Baxter then Croft went six runs apart, but not for long.

Sam Goodier (27) and Jack Dormer (30) kept the board clicking over in the final 10 overs. Plympton’s Ben Banks finished with three Seaton wickets for 23 runs.

The partnership between Baxter and Croft was the turning point,” said Plympton captain Harry Kandampully. Both batted really well and took the game away from us. 

“I thought we did well to pull them back to 265.”

Only Fin Torley in Plympton’s top-six missed out with the bat, but no one made more than Gangatkar either. Manny Motswiri (28), Harry Kandampully (23) and Sam Ford (19) all got in before Gangatkar, but went no further.

By the time Jamie Bailey (26) went in six wickets down the game was already slipping away.

“We never built that one partnership and lost wickets at key points,” said Kandamully. “Seaton deserved the win. We go again this week against Barton.”

Seaton skipper Tim Doulton said: “Damian Baxter and Kai Croft were superb in laying the platform for our total of 267, negotiating some particularly good opening bowling.

“It wasn’t our best performance with the ball or in the field, and credit to Plympton for some patient batting that kept them in the contest. In the end, we had to find a way to win ugly, and that’s exactly what we did.

“There’s plenty for us to build on going forward, but overall we’re delighted to come away with 20 points against a challenging opponent.”