WHIMPLE defeated bottom side Exeter 2ndXI by 22 runs in a top-of-the range encounter on the County Ground.
Nathan Kidd slammed 79 and the unrelated Cameron Kidd made 52 in Whimple’s 45-over total of 253 for six. Will Bardot (33) chipped in.
David Chamberlain took three for 39 at the bottom of the innings.
A second-wicket stand of 97 between Sean Langford (62) and Charlie Fanous (50) made Exeter competitive on the chase. Jamie Telford (29) and Simon Glenn (22) kept them going.
Matt Brown and Matt Richards both bowled tidily to stop Exeter accelerating too quickly.
The game could have gone either way until the Whimple skipper Ben Silk threw the ball to Cameron Kidd. He took three wickets for four runs, notably Simon Glenn for 22, and Exeter slowed from 213 for four to 231 for nine.
Whimple stay third in the table and are close enough to top two Heathcoat and Sidmouth to harbour promotion thoughts.
It’s fourth-placed Exmouth at home this Saturday, which can’t come soon enough for Whimple skipper Ben Silk.
“We will be the underdogs and can’t wait for the game to come round,” claimed Silk.
Silk said Exeter gave Whimple their best game of cricket this season, adding: “How those guys are near the bottom, goodness knows.”
EXETER City boss Matt Taylor cracked 127 for Alphington yet still ended up on the losing side by 23 runs in the game against Sidmouth 2ndXI.
Second-placed Sidmouth, jostling with Heathcoat, Whimple and Exmouth for the one promotion place, made a hefty 299 for five on the Fortfield.
Nick Mansfield hit 80 and best of the rest with 46 and 45 respectively where Jash Patidar and Byron Knowles.
Taylor led the chase, aided by Nick Halse (27), Ben Newcombe (22) and Jack Mills (50). Taylor and Mills put on 104 for the fifth wicket.
Alphington could not get ahead of the clock though and when Taylor was last out on 273 the game was only going to end one way.
Alphington remain in the third relegation place, 10 points behind Shobrooke Park and safety.
BARNSTAPLE & Pilton frustrated Exmouth at every opportunity in a 91-run defeat at Taw Meadow.
The result was never in doubt after Exmouth totted up 227 for four the reduced Barnstaple & Pilton to 33 for five then 49 for seven in reply.
Big runs for Exmouth were scored by captain Richard Baggs (52) and Sean Day (80no).
Adrian Ashton (43) and Jason Smith (30) led a rear-guard action that saw 87 runs added by the last three pairs.
Ryan Schaufler (3-22), Sam Goodier (2-20) and Day (2-5) bowled well, but not well enough to dismiss B&P, who were 136 for nine at the close.
BRAUNTON beat Shobrooke Park by 80 runs to move into the C Division East mid-table area.
Alfie Huxtable (65), Jon Baglow (30) and Callum Mitchell (48) took Braunton to 174 for three before Jareer Shikrani (3-41) caused some alarm. Steve Moore showed what 30-odd years experience brings with a useful 30 not out in the latter overs.
Shobrooke were three wickets down for 100 runs fewer in their reply and therein lay their problem.
Bits and pieces from Dan Robbins (35), Neil Branton (32) and Henry Dare (30) were not enough to get them closer than 163 all out.
Moore (3-22) and Jason Raynor (4-27) were the bowlers who did the damage.
It’s up-and-down Ottery next for Dan Brierley’s men, who are growing in confidence all the time thanks to two wins in the last three starts.
Skipper Brierley said the benefits of luring Alfie Huxtable and Steve Moore back to the club are not hard to see.
“Alfie batted with a lot of class and composure, Jon Baglow really set the platform, Callum Mitchell played with pure timing in his quick fire 48 and Steve Moore hit a swashbuckling 30 not out from not many balls,” said Brierley.
“Then Jason Raynor bowled a naughty spell of quick bowling and we fielded brilliantly.
“Now we need to go into Ottery next with a lot of confidence.”
HEATHCOAT 2ndXI hold in to top spot in the C East for another week thanks to a six-wicket win at Ottery St Mary.
Opener Oliver West made a slow 54 and Eddie Rudolph a brisker 31 in Ottery’s 200 for eight. Pick of the Heathcoat attack with three for 22 was Lee Dixon.
Toby Lochead (51) and Tom Frankpitt (57) both made half-centuries in a rapid run chase lasting just 27.4 overs. Dixon (34no) was there at the end for Heathcoat, who are six points clear of Sidmouth 2ndXI at the top.
