EXETER defeated Cornwood by two wickets in a see-saw encounter on the County Ground.

Exeter were 73 for five chasing 191 to win when Exeter’s Sam Read was dropped on the deep cover boundary. Read went on to make 55 and by the time he was dismissed the target was 25.

Elliott Staddon, the Cornwood captain, was painfully aware how costly dropping Read was.

“Having taken early wickets we felt in the game, but Sam Read made the difference on his own and won them the game.

“We let a chance slip, dropping Read when Exeter needed another 120, and he made us pay for that.”

Clint McCabe, Exeter’s new skipper, said: “A tricky deck which made for a tense game and finish.

“We were below par but still managed to get over the line which is pleasing.

"Sam Read batted beautifully again."

The Wood appeared to be heading for an early tea after dipping to 100 for six under pressure from Exeter’s spin trio of Read (2-20), Clint McCabe (2-36) and George Addy (1-41).

Samarpit Joshi, Cornwood’s new overseas player, made a patient 37 while wickets were falling at the other end. No one else made more than 13.

Matt Butterworth went out to join George Thompson and between they set about repairing some of the damage.

Thompson grafted away for 55 off 101 balls – just four boundaries in there – and Butterworth made a cautious 29 in a stand of 88 that gave Cornwood’s bowlers something tangible to defend.

“Losing the wickets we did early was tough, but George and Matt putting on 88 in the latter part of our innings got us to what we felt was competitive on that wicket, although perhaps 20 light,” said Staddon.

Exeter’s top order struggled to settle against miserly bowling from Staddon, Ben Privett, Jack Ormsby and left-arm spinner Lee Baker.

Read went in during a period when Exeter lost three wickets for 11 runs in the space of five overs.

Will Price (15) shored-up one end during a stand of 45 with Read that pushed the chase up to 118 for six.

Robin Fern (35no), a former Exeter captain, went in at six wickets down and saw the chase through, firstly with Read then Addy (10no).