Allen wacks 168 to lift Torquay off the bottom

TORQUAY clambered out of the Premier Division bottom two with a hefty  135-win over fellow strugglers Plymouth.

George Allen slammed 168, and there were half centuries for Ryan Stevenson and Joe Thompson, in Torquay’s 50-over total of 337 for six. Allen was the last man out with one ball to go.

Plymouth were 202 for nine when their overs ran out, no one making more than Faizan Riaz (60).

Victory moved Torquay off the bottom of the table and dumped Plymouth there instead.

It is a step in the right direction for Torquay, but skipper Justin Yau knows they are not out of the wood yet.

“It was a great win and we are building some nice momentum now,” said Yau.

“George Allen played an incredible innings- he is in superb form and played the innings of his life.

“Ryan Stevenson supported him brilliantly and Joe did what he does best as we posted a superb score.

“We bowled well and didn't give Plymouth a sniff- we were very clinical and we are starting to play the cricket we know we are capable of playing.

“The table is incredibly tight with everyone beating each other - we need to keep winning and try to build a nice gap between us and the bottom two.

“I don't think anyone at this stage can predict who is going to go down which makes it a very exciting season ahead.”

Plymouth had a dream start when Dan Goodey had Torquay opener Justin Yau caught behind in the second over.

When Mitch Pugh chanced his arm against Rob Bennettt and was run out, Torquay were 46 for two in the seventh over.

Allen was already settling in – he batted first wicket down – and for the best part of 30 overs Plymouth chased leather all round the Recreation Ground.

Stevenson, coming back from injury with Hampshire, was encouraged to play for his club side to get some game time in and took full advantage.

In a stand of 170 for the third wicket Stevenson made 69 off 85 balls with six fours and two sixes.

Allen was on 111 not out when Riaz (2-49) bowled Stevenson – and in no hurry to get out any time soon.

Cody Gertze came and went for a three-ball duck, which exposed Plymouth’s wilting bowlers to Torquay big hitter Joe Thompson.

Eight fours and two sixes later Thompson was bowled by Dave Burke for 61 off 38 balls in a stand of 119 with Allen for the fifth wicket.

Burke (2-37) bowled Allen three balls later, ending a three-hour stay that produced 19 fours and three sixes from 142 balls faced.

Plymouth were in seven-an-over territory from the start if the wanted to win – and were soon behind the clock as Cody Gertze (2-37) and Dan Wightman (2-25) pinned them down.

Riaz and Jon Varcoe (23) put on 58 for the fourth wicket, but the clock  was running faster than they were.

When Riaz was stumped off Wightman, it signaled the start of a Plymouth slump.

Four wickets went for 20 runs scored – two each to Wightman and Matt Beasant (2-25) – and any chance of winning gone.

Goodey (38) batted sensibly with the tail to earn Plymouth two batting bonus points in a losing cause.

Sam Stein, the Plymouth captain, felt Torquay had some good fortune at the start and cashed in on it to make a big total.

“I felt we were very unlucky in the first 15 overs as they edged behind square a lot,” said Stein.

“After that Torquay took control and put up a very challenging score.

“There was a lot of variable bounce in the pitch and it didn't play anywhere near the way it looked, which was disappointing. “

On the task in front of Plymouth, Stein said: “We just have to make sure we stick together and start to pick up a few wins.

“Everyone knows we are capable of it, we just need to start showing it.”