Gribble (pictured), Mycock and McCabe bat Exeter into winning position against North Devon | 'Oliver batted with intent and got us off to a strong start' – McCabe

EXETER remain unbeaten in the Tolchards DCL Premier Division after beating North Devon by 87 runs on the County Ground.

The signs weren’t great for Exeter when opener Charlie Clist was bowled in the first over of the match by Jack Popham.

Exeter’s next two wickets fell at 100 and 242 as Oli Gribble, Sam Mycock and skipper Clint McCabe tucked into the North Devon bowling.

Seventeen-year-old Gribble made 62 off 40 balls with seven fours and four sixes next to his name in then book.

Mycock (86) and McCabe (80) ensured the runs kept coming. No one else made more than a dozen in the last 10 overs as North Devon’s bowlers got the brake on. Exeter finished on 288 for eight; less than looked likely at 242 for three with 10 overs to go.

Roshan Lakmal was the only North Devon bowler to take more than one wicket and keep the pace below five an over.

North Devon set off in hot pursuit with Jay Rothery (52) and Fred King (44) bringing the hundred up in the 13th over.

Wickets for Sam Read, Zach Vukusic (2-24) and Will Price (2-16) slowed North Devon to 153 for six with 20 overs to go.

James Tyson (21) and Tom Popham (34) gave North Devon’s chase fresh legs for a while, but McCabe (2-18) split them up. Read returned to take two more wickets for match figures of four for 48 in a total of 201 all out.

If North Devon’s place in the bottom two is a worry for skipper Jack Moore, he isn’t showing it.

“I have no issues with losing to a side who will be up there in September,” said Moore.

“We did well to bring it back in the field – and got away to another good start with the bat. Once again the middle order couldn't back it up.”

McCabe said in a ‘strong performance all round’ the top-order batting stood out.

“Oliver batted with intent and got us off to a strong start to allow our top order to build a competitive score,” said McCabe.

“Sam Mycock, our overseas player, batted sensibly and fluently, and showed what a good player he is.”