By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
PLYMPTON gave their promotion prospects a boost when they won by 49 runs at Torquay.
Plympton stated the day fifth in the A Division table with some work to do to catch runaway leaders Exmouth, Torquay and Exeter, who were comfortably ahead of Budleigh Salterton (4th) and Plympton.
As Exmouth, Torquay and Exeter all lost, and Budleigh and Plympton both won, the top five concertinaed together.
Exmouth (147pts) still have a sizeable lead, but Budleigh (127), Plympton and Torquay (both 124) and Exeter (120) are in a squabble for second place.
Tino Mutombodzi was the man of the moment for Plympton with runs and wickets.
Mutombodzi top scored with 108 not out as Plympton recovered from 15 for three to reach 244 for nine. Along the way the Zimbabwean put on 101 with skipper Alex Carr (38), 42 with Jonty Walliker (13) and a useful 44 at the end with tail-enders Keiryn Cooper (12) and Craig Donohue (11no).
“Tino played a fantastic innings and from being concerned at 15 for three we were pleased to get 244, although felt it could be tough to defend,” said Jonty Walliker, the Plympton vice-captain.
Fit again Jono Colegate (3-55) and spinner Harry Baxendale (3-42) booked Torquay’s best bowling figures.
Torquay’s batting failed to fire until it was too late as Mutombodzi (4-35) backed up by Walliker (2-37) reduced them to 100 for seven with 22 overs to go.
Tim Western (23), Chris Kelmere (22) and Colegate (24) all got in, got set and got out without going on to make the sort of score chases are hung on.
“We appreciated the importance of taking early wickets and thankfully they came,” said Walliker.
“The pitch was turning, which suited Tino, and he ran through the Torquay middle order.”
Just when it seemed all over bar the shouting, Sonny Baker was joined by Baxendale and they hit back.
Baker, who is on the staff at Somerset, was playing for his home-town club to get some match time in after a lengthy injury absence. He may be an England under-19 international but he was happy to prop up one end while Baxendale made runs at the other.
Baxendale went on to make 56 not out off 71 balls, and Baker finished unbeaten on 29, in a respectable Torquay total of 195 for eight.
“It would have been good to put the game to bed but that often proves more difficult than it seems,” said Walliker.”
