CHASERS Plympton defeated Exmouth by five wickets to close the gap on them at the top of the A Division table.

Second-placed Plympton went into round 13 of the league season 25 points behind Exmouth and nine ahead of third-in-the-table Budleigh.

After the latest batch of fixtures the one-two-three at the top is Exmouth (213pts), Plympton (199) and Budleigh (196). Even Torquay (188) in fourth place can’t be discounted as they still have to play Budleigh and Plympton second time around. 

As Budleigh also have Plympton and Exmouth to play the permutations are many in what is shaping up into a thrilling end to the season.

Exmouth, who lost the toss and were asked to bat first, made a respectable 255 for seven in their 50 overs.

South African run machine Jason Niemand (17) had a rare failure, but opening partner James Horler made amends with a studious 74 off 110 balls.

Horler was at one end during stands that took Exmouth to 216 for six. Fin Marks (25) and Cam Kidd (47) were running mates.

Matt Kimber was unbeaten on 25 when the overs ran out.

Jonty Walliker sent back Niemand and Dan Pyle in his first spell and accounted for Horler when he came back later for a match return of three for 45.

Tino Mutombodzi and Luke McLaughlin had two wickets each.

Plympton lost wickets at 40 and 62 before Mutombidzi wandered out to the middle to join Harry Kandampully.

Having wiped out the first 100 with a couple of partners, Kandampully was run out for 25. Exmouth did not take another wicket until the chase had passed 200, by when the outcome was just about a formality.

Mutombodzi’s 94 laid waste to the chase, which was finished off by skipper Alex Carr (39no) with contributions from McLaughlin (20) and Walliker (24no).

Walliker, the Plympton vice-captain, said the team had a plan and were able to implement 100 per cent of it.

"Our plan this week was to bowl first and back ourselves to chase,” said Walliker. 

“We stuck to our plan and it worked. It was a fantastic, competitive game of cricket and we were pleased to get over the line.

“Credit to Exmouth: it was a game that ebbed and flowed from start to finish.

“We dropped nothing in the field and Luke McLaughlin was excellent with four catches.

“Credit also to Tino for an excellent 94 – and to Alex Carr who anchored the chase with a captain’s innings.”

Exmouth skipper Lawrence Greenway has not lost any sleep over the five-wicket defeat at Plympton that shaved his side’s lead at the top of the A Division down to 14 points.

Greenway said Exmouth could have played better, but doubted that would have made much difference.

“With the ball we just lacked a little bit of a cutting edge, although the pitch was very flat and great for batting,” he said.

“Tino played a chanceless innings and when a player gets an 80-ball hundred (practically) it's very difficult to defend a score under 300.

“Plympton are the best side we've come up against this season. Disappointed to lose but it was a great game of cricket played in the right spirit.”