EXETER showed they could win without their Somerset staffmen on parade when they defeated lowly Torquay in the basement battle on the County Ground.

Neither Ben Green or Nathan Gilchrist was released by Somerset – and Tom Lammonby was called into the squad for the latest round of T20 Blast games. He made his debut in the defeat by Kent.

Exeter  recovered from a nervy 12 for two to reach 202 all out in the last of their 50 overs.

Josh Arendse (29) and Tom Richardson (49) go the innings going then Ed Middleton (28) and Robin Fern (36) scored valuable runs after drinks.

Keeper-batter Fern, whose appearances this term have been limited due to work commitments, went in at 120 for six and shared stands of 69 before he was ninth out.

Torquay’s teenage paceman Sonny Baker (2-30 off 10) showed why Devon captain Alex Barrow is a fan and there was a tidy two for 36 off 10 for spinner Chris Kelmere.

Elliot Moses (3-24) trumped Baker and Kelmere in the bowling stats.

Torquay, battling hard to avoid an immediate return to the A Division, got to 76 for four after 25 overs, largely due to bits and pieces, the best of them Mitch Pugh’s 22.

Kelmere (36) and Tom Drake (24) upped the pace then Neal Osborne (50no) took the game to Exeter with some nippy running between the wickets.

Torquay were 144 for six with 10 overs left and got down to the last over from James Bovey needing 16 to win. They finished short on 200 for nine.

Exeter’s pressure bowlers were skipper Tom Pedel (2-28) and debutant Alec Hollifield (2-33).

Victory keeps Exeter in mid-table. Torquay earned one more point than Sandford to move out of the bottom two.

Said Pedel: “What a great game of cricket!

“Tom Richardson scratched his way to 49 to help us set a good total. 

“A special mention for 14 year old Alec Hollifield, who made his debut, picked up a couple of wickets and played a big part in the win.”