Exmouth suffered tail-end charlie trouble as they had to settle for a winning draw in their meeting with Plympton.

Batting first, the Maer men, scored a very respectable 224-9 in their 50 overs.

Barney Huxtable (51), David Lye (45) and Lawrence Greenway – the latter promoted to open the innings with Huxtable, struck 43.

The visitors produced contributions down then order but none grater than 41 and, at 178-9 it looked very much as if Exmouth, without skipper Richard Baggs, would chalk up a sixth win of the top flight season.

However then last pair shut up shop to great effect and saw out the final five overs to see their side to a closing total of 197-9.

Lye completed yet another excellent all-round match with four wickets and Trevor Anning claimed three.

Three to play for the Maer men who are at home to Bradninch on Saturday.

They go into the game still very much in the hunt for the runners-up berth which they look to be contesting with Sidmouth, Budleigh and Bovey Tracey who are the three sides currently standing between them and champions elect North Devon.