Whimple 1st XI suffered a 44-run defeat when they hosted Alphington in a Tolchards Devon League C Division East meeting.

The Exeter side won the toss and opted to bat first, but the home bowlers did their work well and restricted the Alphas to a close of 210-8.

Lee Lorenzen claimed three wickets for 30 runs with all three of his wickets catches held by wicket keeper Dave Culshaw. Cameron Kidd bagged a brace, finishing with figures of 2-17 and there were single wickets for Steve Hathaway, Matt Brown and Simon Harris.

What a successful Whimple run chase needed was a good start, but they got the opposite with both openers Nathan Kidd and Kevin Thompson sent back by the Alphas lively opening bowler, both without troubling the scorers. Nineteen runs for two wickets quickly became 36-4 as Leigh Lorenzen (25) and Cameron Kidd were both dismissed. Whimple were soon 68-6 and on their way to defeat, but they did battle back thanks to a fine 42 from Dave Culshaw and a five-boundary quick-fire unbeaten 46 from number eight bat Matt Brown.

However, it was a case of ‘too little, too late’ and the final Whimple wicket fell with the reply on 166.

Whimple sit fifth in the table at the halfway stage of the season. They sit 22 points behind second in the table Feniton and they begin the second half of the campaign this Saturday (July 8) with a visit to third placed Clyst Hydon who will begin the day 13 points better off than them.