SOUTH Devon’s losing streak in the C Division West continued with a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of table-topping Paignton.

That’s three successive defeats for the Newton Abbot side, who have dropped into the bottom two along with Plymouth 2nd XI.

They still boast an 11-point advantage over Plymouth though and are on the same points as eighth-placed Sandford, showing just how quickly this can all shift again.

South Devon were skittled out for 123 with more than eight overs unused. Andy Singh (4-24) and Lewis Swar (2-19) were the bowlers who did the damage.

Openers Mark Andrews (25) and Danny Duke (25) gave South Devon a solid start, but after that only Kalen Warne (17) and Toby Goodman (13) made it out of single figures. Extras top scored with 36.

Mali Marshall and Jon Martin (2-8) had some success for South Devon with the new ball. They reduced Paignton to 18 for three. That was as good as it got.

Neil Hancock, batting first wicket down, hit 50 not out and Cole McFarlane was not far behind on 44 when the winning runs were scored.

On the topic of Sandford 2nd XI and it was a win for them that made for major change, Pete Steer having a game to remember in the 33-run win over Ashburton.

Steer took seven Ashburton wickets for 34 runs – including a hat-trick – as they were bowled out for 177 chasing 211 to win.

Ashburton were 71 for one when Steer claimed his first hat-trick victim: Jack Warren, lbw. Ryan May was bowled and Kiwi Greg Robinson stumped for the third. It was the first time Steer had performed the hat-trick.

“I have got to thank Archie Osborne behind the stumps for the last one as it was a terrible ball,” said Steer.

Steer was on a hat-trick again a few overs later – Charlie Towers and Harry Bannister one after the other – but Alex Hayman survived.

“I bowled a wide for the hat-trick ball,” admitted Steer.

Ashburton opener Steve Edmonds made 39 before Steer got to work, Chris Yeo (41) propped-up the middle order.

Sandford’s total of 210 all out owed plenty to the batting prowess of Osborne, who went in at 86 for four and thumped 84 off 86 balls. Joe Hopkins (24) and Praison Alias (25) both chipped-in.

Pick of the bowlers for Ashburton with four for 30 was Ryan May. Towers and Matt Coon claimed two each.

It was Sandford’s second win in three games and moves them above SDCC, with the pair both on 99 points, as has been previously mentioned.