Neil and Matt Brown claimed seven wickets between them as Whimple defeated Halberton and Sampford Peverell by 93 runs in a top-of-the-table D Division East meeting.

Whimple were asked to bat first to the Halberton track and were given a 57 run start by Dave Culshaw (35) and Mike Searle (22). Neil Brown (20 ), skipper Henry Gordon-Lennox (47 ) and Ben Silk (46no) all made contributions as Whimple closed on 198-6 after their 45 overs.

Any concerns that a sub 200 score might not be enough were quickly dispelled as Steve Hathaway and Jon Bardot bagged early wickets and the home side was reduced to 22-2.

After the early wickets it became the Brown show with the pair sending down a full compliment of nine overs each to return combined figures of seven wickets for 54 runs from the 18 overs!

Neil finished with 4-24 and Matt with 3-30. Neil Maud (1-3 from five balls), Jon Bardot (1-27 from six) and Steve Hathaway (1-14 from six), were the other wicket takers as the morning leaders were bowled out for 105 in one ball shy of 32 overs.

The results sees Whimple now sitting top, leading by three points from second placed Clyst St George with two games and 40 points to play for. Whimple travel to Honiton this Saturday (August 27) and then close the season at home to Culmstock the Saturday after. In the earlier season meetings Whimple were comfortable winners against both Honiton (by seven wickets) and Culmstock (by 118 runs) and so it seems that only the weather can stop Whimple going on now to claim a place in the C Division East next season.