PLYMOUTH 2nd XI were on the receiving end of a strong performance as Ashburton moved on from the embarrassment of being bowled out for 54 by Ivybridge with a speedy win.

Ashburton bowled out Plymouth for 140, then knocked off the runs for the loss of six wickets with more than 22 overs unused.

Defeat leaves Plymouth bottom of the D West table and 28 points away from safety.

A succession of Plymouth batters got in, got set and got out without bettering the top score of 25 made by James Toms. Ed Lockett (23) and Sam Knapman (22) were not far behind.

A middle-order dip from 78 for two to 85 for five – Vaibahav Sheth (2-33) largely responsible – slowed Plymouth down.

Knapman and Seth Stephenson (17) got the board moving again, until Matt Coon (4-11) levered out the lower-order batters.

Sheth dominated the early part of the Ashburton chase with 50 of the first 61 on the board. Harry Bannister (16) and skipper Lloyd White (13no) ensured an early end to proceedings.

It was Sheth's final game for Ashburton as he has been forced to return to India due to personal reasons.

Plymouth are bringing up the rear in C Division West on 68 points with 27 separating them and South Devon Cricket Club who are eighth-placed.

Ashburton meanwhile are in fourth and have Cornwood and Kingsbridge either side of them in the standings.

Talking of Cornwood 2nd XI and they beat South Devon by seven wickets to send the Newton Abbot side into the C West bottom three.

South Devon’s batting had a collective off day – Danny Duke (25) excepted – as they flopped to 88 all out in the 39th over.

Skipper Richard Beaumont (12) and 16 extras were the next best totals in the scorebook.

South Devon were spun out by Jason Hall (4-18) and Jacob Caunter (3-8).

Losing three wickets getting from 42 to 43, and four in the 80s, summed-up South Devon’s day.

Cornwood lost wickets at 43, 45 and finally 70 on the way to winning the game in the 18th over.

Matt Butterworth (42) was the last man out before Hall (10) and Josh Goodliffe (11) took Cornwood to victory.

Kalen Warne, South Devon’s 2nd XI captain, took two of the three wickets to fall.

Cornwood (135pts) stay third in the table behind frontrunners Paignton 2nd XI (168) and Ivybridge (157) whilst, as previously mentioned, Ashburton are the side closest to them heading in the other direction.

Next up for SDCC is the high-flying Paignton team who could well condemn to them further misery.