SANDY Allen played the anchorman role with 84 as Exmouth beat Paignton by two wickets in a close-run affair at Queens Park.
Paignton were all out for 210 in the last of their 50 overs. Chris Kelmere top scored with 43 of 30 balls.
Allen opened up for Exmouth and took them to 152 for five. Three wickets fell for nine runs as Paignton fought back, them Marquis Clark (27no) steered Exmouth home.
Exmouth stay in mid-table going no where this season. Paignton are still second from bottom and go into the derby clash with Torquay this Saturday 13 points from safety.
Paignton, the only side in the top flight without an overseas player or professional, were kept in check by tight bowling from Clarke (0-33), Gary Chappell (0-30) and David Lye (0-30).
When Paignton tried to up the tempo they lost wickets to Alvin Pollard (4-30) and Trevor Anning.
Anning, unable to bowl pace due to a groin injured, turned his arm to off-spin instead and took four for 35 from 10 overs.
Plenty of Paignton batters got on, got started and got out without making the big scored needed to post 250 plus.
Opener Peter Taylor made 31 , skipper Connor Bryan had 39 and Rob Shergold 22.
Kelmere and Shergold put on 58 for the fifth wicket, which was Paignton/s best stand.
Exmouth did it differently with Allen (pictured) playing the lead role, supported by Dan Pyle (18) and Bob Dawson (14) among others.
Clarke and Pollard (13) straightened things out after the mini collapse, leaving Ollie Dawe (5no) to help close the game out.
With five needed to win and two wickets left, Exmouth were gifted victory when Paignton’s Steve George threw in five wides.
Losing captain Bryan said: “It was a great performance from the lads.
“We were unfortunate the result did not go our way, but we will keep going to the end of the season.
“Lots of batters got going with 30 and 40s but we didn't convert those scores into 80s and 90s.”