THREE-wicket hauls for Dom Bess and Alfonso Thomas set Exeter on course for a 44-run win over Heathcoat on the County Ground.

Exeter were all out for 172 with Aussie opener Blake Reed making exactly 50 and Bess two runs behind on 48,

Heathcoat had it all to do after dipping to 72 for six in reply. Matt Rudston (25) and Jamie Drew (26) delayed the inevitable, but Bess picked both of them off, leaving Reed and Thomas to administer the last rites.

It wasn’t quite the performance Exeter skipper Miles Lenygon as looking for, but he was content with the margin if not the manner of victory,

“We got a great start when we batted – we were 71 for none – then lost four wickets for eight runs by trying to be too positive,” said Lenygon.

“It was a 220 wicket, but we didn’t treat it like one and lost wickets in batches.

“Dom and myself got us over the first clump of wickets falling, then Dom did it all again after we went from 103 for four to 108 for seven. He batted brilliantly.

“I thought we were 30-40 short, but with Alfie to bowl up front and our spin attack behind him felt we were still in the game.

“It worked out pretty much the way I saw it going and after 15 overs when Heathcoat were 63 for five I couldn’t see us losing.

“We built pressure and took our chances; it was a good performance from a team that will only get better as players come back over the next few weeks.”

Brad Barnes, the new Heathcoat captain, said his side only played well in patches.

“It showed we have had limited competitive preparation as we weren't at the right intensity in general,” said Barnes.

“I was very pleased by the way we fought back in the field but our batting was just poor.”

Reed was one of the four men out during Exeter’s initial slump – one of three wickets for Heathcoat spinner Jack Menheneott (3-26).

Barnes (4-14) got into the middle order with Lenygon and Bess the only batters to resist long. Among the casualties was Somerset staffer Alex Barrow, caught behind for one.

Bess was involved in stands worth 89 while he was in the middle, the best on of 38 for the ninth wicket with Peter Hensor (14). Without him Exeter would have been in trouble.

Former Somerset paceman Thomas did exactly what lenygon had hoped for by nipping out Heathcoat openers Sam Smith and Dylan Penberthy.

Peter Randerson made 27 and Barnes 18 before falling to Reed – two for 20 off 10 – and Bess respectively.

After Rudston fell to Bess (3-30) the tail folded to 128 all out – Thomas finishing it by bowling last man Paul Elliott.