Feniton suffered a second successive C Division East defeat when they went down by four wickets to Exeter 2nds.

Feniton skipper Mark Salter said: “I felt after our go with the bat that we were a little light. On a decent track that 228 was only par and so it proved as another 20 or 30 and they [Exeter] would then have been forced to take risks and that might have opened the door for us.”

He continued: “That said we cannot be downhearted. They fielded a strong side and you could see, in their batting, that they are the 2nd XI of a Premier side.

“For our part, we have to learn when to press the accelerator and when to be cute. Too many of our middle order batsmen chased big shots too early in their innings, hence our middle order collapse.

“At first drinks, at 81-1, I thought we’d get 230-250, and even at second drinks, at 150-1 I felt we’d post a score more than the one we did.

“But it’s early in the season and we are still settling in. To make a Premier Club 2nds work for a win, as we did, is pleasing and I know there is more to come from our side.”

Salter won the toss and opted to bat first and he opened with Graham Tucker and the pair made an excellent start, adding 81 before the skipper fell to a catch having scored 30, hitting four fours. Tucker was joined by Chris May and they continued to enjoy the excellent Acland Park batting conditions, taking the score to 157 when Tucker fell for what was a fine knock that saw him score 59, hitting one six and eight fours. Chris May followed Tucker back to the pavilion with the total on 184 – May out for a four boundary 38 and, when Alex Frankpitt was trapped leg before for one to the fourth ball he faced, Feniton were 189-4. Mark Kingdom was next out, caught for 11 and, when Jack Tucker was sent back with 10 to his name – the youngster struck two sweet boundaries – Feniton were 215-6. That was soon 216-8 following the loss in quick succession of Andrew Rose, caught without troubling the scorers, and Jonathan Pyle, who lost his stumps when on 11.

Eight runs were added before Ben Norris became the ninth wicket to fall – he was run out without a run to his name – and Matthew Davies was the last man down, out with two balls of the 45 overs remaining having scored on with Feniton 228 all out.

If the Feniton openers had made a good fist of their start, then the visiting batsmen were even more impressive as they took the run chase into three figures and it was with the scoreboard on 110 that the first wicket fell with a smart pick up and throw from Alex Frankpitt doing the damage. A second wicket fell four runs later with Mark Kingdom holding a catch off John Pyle, but, from 114-2, Exeter moved somewhat effortlessly to 175 before they lost a third wicket with John Pyle taking a catch to give Jack Tucker a wicket. The visitors wobbled a tad, slipping to 208-6, as the winning line approached, but, crucially for Exeter, their opening bat Michael Wilkinson was proving to be difficult to remove and he saw them home, finishing the game unbeaten on 98 as Exeter sealed a four wicket win with one over and two balls to spare. That said, Wilkinson was dropped before he had scored – young Tucker’s third delivery of the innings found the edge, but the catch was spilled behind!

Chris May claimed a brace to top the home bowling (his figures being 2-31 from eight overs) and there were single wickets for Jack Tucker (1-4 from nine), Jonathan Pyle (1-54 from 7.4) and Matthew Davies (1-43 from 9).

On Saturday (May 26), Feniton travel across East Devon to meet a Kilmington side that won by 10 wickets at Clyst Hydon on match day three to sit second in the table behind currently all-conquering Sidmouth Town 2nds.

Salter says of the game: “It depends very much on their [Kilmington] strength. They made some astute signings pre-season and, on their day I fancy they will be as strong as anyone in the division. That said, if we get good availability then there’s no reason why we cannot be a match for them. It’s all about players applying themselves in the right way, at the right time.”