EXETER showed why they are serious contenders for the Premier Division title this season with a 90-run win over North Devon to go top of the table.

The two sides were unbeaten going into the game so something had to give.

And when Exeter were 28 for four in the 10th over, it seemed North Devon had the upper hand,

Dom Bess and skipper Miles Lenygon teamed up to add 135 for the fifth wicket – and with Tom Lammonby chipping 44 not out off 33 balls a total of 226 was posted.

North Devon stumbled from 24 for three to 40 for six in reply, careered to 55 for eight and were only saved from total embarrassment by Ed Yeo’s professional 55 not out at number seven.

Former Somersdt paceman Alfonso Thomas (3-20) was a bit too good for the North Devon tail-enders as the visitors were bundled out for 136.

That’s three wins on the spin for Exeter, who have gone past Torquay following the Seasiders six-run defeat by Plymouth.

Lenygon played down his own contribution, preferring to look at the broader picture.

“At 28 for four we were struggling,” said Lenygon.

“Fortunately, Dom Bess and myself managed to put on a few and Tom finished the innings off brilliantly.

“In the field we caught and fielded well and all the bowlers were very disciplined.”

Leyngon will have been pleased Exeter did a lot of the work without relying too heavily on contributions from Somerset pair past and present, Thomas and Alex Barrow.

Thomas and Barrow were among the early casualties picked off by North Devon seamer Josh King on his way to a five-for-36 haul.

After Lenygon and Bess did their bit, Ben Green (18) and Lammonby put on 32 then Jon Rimmer kept an end going in a stand of 24 with Lammonby.

North Devon’s frontline batters were shot away by Green (2-46), Lamomby and Blake Reed with a wicket each and a run-out,.

Yeo, who batted 105 minutes and hit nine boundaries in his 81-ball stay, cane in at 36 for five and promptly saw Thomas remove Joe Kelly and King in quick succession.

Jack Hockin (16) and last man Matt Westaway (20) ensured a degree of respectability to the total.

Westaway and Yeo put on 52 for the last wicket before Bess broke the stand.