Ben Green  top scored for Exeter in the win over Exmouth<br>credit: Gerry Hunt

TOM Lammonby and Harry Conway took three wickets each to speed Exeter to a 43-run win over Exmouth in a low-scoring affair on the Maer.

Ben Green made a top score of 73 – nine fours, one six – and Tom Richardson hit 34 in Exeter’s total of 152 all out. Green survived a confident shout for caught behind on three which, had it been given, could have been a game changer.

No one else made more than six for Exeter, who were 20 for four early on after a battering from Pete Turnbull (2-18) and George Greenway.

Green and Richardson put on 103 for the fourth wicket. Once Green went to Chris Metters, followed three runs later by Richardson to David Lye, the bottom half disintegrated.

Five wickets went for 26 runs scored – Billy Rudolph (3-16) taking three of them – as Exeter faded out.

Exmouth were soon in trouble at two for two – Lammonby at the double – and veered from 30 for three to 52 for five.  Turnbull (31) was fifth out.

Aussie newcomer Ben Ellis (21 off 56 balls hung around but his partners lacked stickability.

Conway (3-34) took three in a row against his former club as the last four wickets went for 18 runs. Lammonby (3-19) needed three balls of his final spell to have last man Sid Fereday caught behind.

As far as the league tables are concerned there is no change. Exeter remain fifth and Exmouth one off the bottom.

Tom Pedel, the Exeter captain, hailed it a ‘great, all-round performance’ by his side.

Pedel added: “After a really tricky start, Ben Green and Tom Richardson put on a brilliant 100-run stand to put a score on the board on what was a tough wicket to score.

“Backed up by a good, all-round bowling performance, Harry Conway returned against his old club to take three wickets.”

Andrew Buzza, the Exmouth captain, said it was a hard defeat to take.

“We put ourselves once again in a favourable position yet lacked the grit to finish the job,” said Buzza.

“Our seam attack looks dangerous and our fielding is much improved. 

“As a batting unit we need to work harder and grind out innings.”

Buzza had nothing to say about Green’s close shave, but did put his and Lammonby’s contribution in context.

“Exeter battled well with bat and ball on an honest wicket,” said Buzza.

“Green and Lammonby again showed the importance of their roles in their side, something a few Exmouth players can learn from...”