WHEN Tom Field joined Stephen George in the middle at Instow, their Paignton team-mates were packing the minibus, ready to hit the road.

The signs did not look good after all. Paignton, third from bottom in the premier division, were 92 for nine, still 177 runs short of the 269 for six set by North Devon, who are pushing leaders Sidmouth hard in the title race.

Twenty-one overs later, the minibus remained unmoved and so did Nos 10 and 11 in the Paignton batting order.

The only driving that had been done was from George and Field — driving the ball to the boundary and their opponents to distraction.

Not only did their unbroken stand of 106 earn Paignton an unlikely draw, it was a record tenth-wicket partnership in the premier division.

Mike Hedden, the North Devon captain, "was not a happy chappy".

"It was very frustrating," he said. "We relaxed a little bit and thought we would get the last one easily. But we have got to give Paignton a bit of credit."

The result was harsh on Dan Bowser who had scored his first century of the Francis Clark Devon League season.

Going in at No 3, with North Devon 45 for two, the left hander made 125 not out, forging half-century stands with Matt Nobes (22), Jas Kalsi (26) and Jamie Overton (20no).

"It was a great innings," said Hedden. "He just played to the situation. We had lost a few wickets and he steadied the ship, then played freely when he needed to."

Paignton were rattled by an opening burst from the Overton twins, Craig and Jamie, who knocked over their top three, then spinner Matt Dart removed the middle order.

"It was tremendous to have them 92 for nine and we deserved it," said Hedden. "The score reflected exactly how well we had bowled."

But try as they might, the North Devon attack just could not budge those last two.

George made 53 and Field 41 as they breezed past the previous best tenth-wicket partnership — 75 by Lewis Baker and Ian Bishop for Budleigh Salterton against Exmouth in 2005.

Mike Pedley, the Paignton captain, said: "At 92 for nine, we were all getting showered and loading up the van as we could only see it ending one way.

"But Stephen has always been able to bat and Tom is a clean hitter of the ball. Once the pair of them got settled, North Devon never looked like getting them out. Everyone in the team was so proud of them."

The consolation for North Devon is that Sidmouth, who beat Exeter by four wickets, could only add three points to their lead, which now stands at nine.

"It hasn't made a huge amount of difference because we still need Sidmouth to lose a game," said Hedden.

"It's still achievable but now we are under a bit of pressure. We have got to win (at Plymouth on Saturday), a draw is no good to us."

For that match, North Devon will be without Neil Bettiss, who is best man at a wedding, and Matt Dart, who will be working.