Whimple’s charge up the C Division East table gathered further momentum as they won a low-scoring encounter at hosts Clyst Hydon.

Whimple skipper Ben Silk won the toss and opted to bat first, but saw opener Kevin Thompson sent back, trapped leg before wicket without troubling the scorers.

Leigh Lorenzen was next man in – and out – falling for 21 to leave Whimple 33-2.

Wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the innings with only Dave Culshaw, batting at number four, making much of an impression, going on to top score with 40. That Lorenzen offering was the ‘best of the rest’ with the only other batters into double figures being opener Will Bardot (13), number five bat Cameron Kidd (14) and last man, Neil Maud, who was unbeaten on 11 as Whimple’s innings came to a premature end after 39.1 overs with 136 runs on the score board.

If captain Silk was concerned at tea that his side’s total might not be enough, he was soon to see it most certainly was as Clyst Hydon were promptly bundled out for just 107 in only 26.5 overs!

Opening seamer Neil Maud was the start of the Whimple bowling show as he claimed a five wicket haul to finish with the impressive figures of 5-35 from nine overs. Aussie all-rounder Leigh Lorenzen picked up three wicket for just 17 runs and Steve Hathaway bagged a brace at a cost of 26 runs from his 6.5 overs.

The victory launches Whimple to within just 140 points of second placed Alphington who are three places better of than Ben Silk and his men with eight games remaining.

This Saturday (July 15) Whimple entertain a Braunton side they beat by nine wickets when the side’s met up in North Devon on matchday two of the campaign. Ion that game, Leigh Lorenzen scored an unbeaten century.