ABBOTSKERSWELL lost by 102 runs to Plymstock in the basement battle of the Tolchards DCL A Division.
Plymstock were rock bottom going into the game and without a win in four previous rounds. Abbots were three points ahead of them.
Prince Masvaure had a credible claim for man of the match as he top-scored with 49 in Plymstock’s 50-over total of 181 for eight and finished the match on a high note with a hat-trick.
Masvaure and Matt Whalley (29) put on 67 for the third wicket, which precipitated a worrying collapse from 91 for two to 94 for six as Inder Singh (3-13) mowed down the middle order in consecutive overs.
Abbots could not shift Masvaure at that stage and he rebuilt the innings with help from skipper James Nicholls (23 off 75 balls).
Bits and pieces all add up in low-scoring games, which made contributions from Hadleigh Scott-Kirk (15no) and Rob Cunningham (12no) useful in the grand scheme of things.
A running total of 37-5 proved indicative of Abbot’s top order this season.
James Tyler (29) valued his wicket far more than most and his 69-ball stay was as good as it got for Abbots. His wicket was the final straw, as 77-6 quickly became 79 all out.
Scott-Kirk (3-13) did the initial damage. Masvaure (5-16) took care of the rest.
Nick Watkin, the Abbotskerswell captain, said another batting failure was at the root of this defeat.
“Plymstock were the better side and failing to score 100 between us is not good enough,” said Watkin.
“Not even getting to three figures shows where we are as a batting unit, a unit with a gaping hole in it.”
Meanwhile, Ipplepen remain fifth in the B Division table thanks to a five-wicket win at Clyst St George.
No one made more than skipper Dan Kendall (29) in Clyst’s modest total of 174 all out.
There were plenty of chip-ins – Freddie Creer (28), Andy Donovan (22) and Ewen Cragg (20) – but nothing more substantial to construct a sizeable partnership around.
Pens’ bowlers George Tapley, Paul Thomas and Ross Kennard all operated below four runs an over, which ramped up the pressure.
Andy Bligh (4-39) and Nathan Forde (2-31) took care of the wicket-taking tasks.
Ipplepen cruised to victory with more than seven overs to go on the back of an unbroken stand of 56 between Callum Stanley and Sam Wakeham.
Opener Marcus Gadie’s run-a-ball 57 gave Pens a solid start. Stanley (42no) and Wakeham (33no) finished the job.
Matt Beasant, the Ipplepen captain, said that Gadie batted “exceptionally” as well as the following.
“We bowled absolutely brilliantly. Ross and Andy continued their excellent form and Nathan was brilliant.”