PLYMOUTH’S worries at the foot of the table deepened when they suffered a 105-run defeat by Exmouth.
Exmouth totted up a hefty 352 for nine in their 50 overs – the greatest score by a Premier team for three seasons.
Plymouth were all out for 247, losing their way after a flying start got them to 100 for two in13 overs.
The city side did pick up eight bonus points in defeat, which was some consolation. Defeats for fellow strugglers Exeter and North Devon mean Plymouth are only a little worse off than they were before round eight.
The gap between Plymouth and safety has widened to from 14 points to 18.
Exmouth’s sizeable total was hung around two big knocks and several chip-ins.
Opener David Lye made 80 and when he was third out on 166 had put on 91 with Sandy Allen.
Dan Pyle thrashed 91 off 80 balls – 122 fours, three sixes – and shared a partnership of 118 for the fourth wicket with Callum French.
French weighed in with 47 off 53 balls and there was 17-ball cameo for 26 from former Warwickshire staffer Chris Metters.
Fahad Ali (3-45) was the most successful Plymouth wicket taker. Dan Goodey (2-27) was the only one to go for less than four an over.
Plymouth opener Jake Luffman was dismissed second ball by George Greenway (3-36) and James Toms went for 14 on 32 for two.
Jon Varcoe (35) and Fazian Riaz (68) rattled along to 100 for three in the 14th over and at that stage Plymouth were ahead of the clock.
After Varcoe departed lbw to David Lye (2-33), Plymouth started to slow.
Four wickets went getting from 130 for three to 152 for seven – Riaz among them to French (3-34) – and that was game over for Plymouth.
Hal Kerton and skipper Sam Stein went for damage limitation after that.
Their stand of 81 for the eighth wicket – Kerton made 54, Stein had 27 – took Plymouth to 233 for eight.
Kerton was winkled out by Bob Dawson, leaving Greenway to knock over the tail-enders in a brief second spell.
