Vanishing act no magic for Torquay

TORQUAY'S tail-enders did a vanishing act Paul Daniels would have admired as they slipped to a 35-run defeat at Plympton.

Plympton rallied from 67 for five to 170 for seven in their 50 overs with David Wrench (57no), and Chris Bunny (37) salvaging the situation.

Torquay were 135 for six before Usman Malvi got out for 55 – and didn't score another run as the tail disappeared to pace pair Lewis Gregory and Nassar Hussain.

Gregory finished with five wickets for 22 runs – three of them in the last over.

Plympton's early order didn't exactly cover themselves in glory as the first three got out to Torquay seamer James Woodruff (4-49).

Nick Watkin bowled Jeremy Williams for 17 and when Gregory played round what was basically a straight ball from Ben Orr the score was 67 for five.

The stand of 94 between Bunny and Wrench gave Plympton a fighting chance. Wrench faced 78 balls for his 55, which included seven boundaries. Bunny was the anchorman for 74 balls and only hit three fours, but it was time at the crease that mattered rather than brisk scoring.

Torquay got just the start they didn't want when Hussain opened the bowling – Matt Thompson caught at slip for two.

Tim Western went caught behind to the same bowler, Watkin was cleaned out by Gregory for 29 and when Arwyn Jones bowled the swinging Justin Yau, followed by Donohue snaring Mike Wilkinson for a duck, Torquay were 80 for five.

Just when things couldn't have got any worse for Torquay, they did as Gregory bowled Harry Moores for nothing.

Malvi dug in with Joe Thompson, first to stop the clatter of wickets going down then to make inroads into the target.

Their stand of 54 appeared to have Torquay back on an even keel and if they weren't going to win they probably shouldn't have lost either.

The rot started with Thompson's dismissal, caught in the gulley by a diving Gregory off Hussain. Malvi went in the next over, dancing down the track to Gregory and getting an edge through to keeper Dan Robotham.

Four balls later it was all over. Woodruff survived three before Gregory trapped him lbw, then Orr went next to a ball that was too straight and far ro quick for him.

Victory leaves Plympton second in the table with 33 points to make up on leaders Sidmouth, who thumped Bradninch by 105 runs.