UPLYME & Lyme Regis Cricket Club made a poor start to their Devon League C Division campaign with the first team going down to Collumpton by 134 runs on Saturday.

Football, injuries, and exams led to a scratch first 11 travelling to the newly-promoted Collumpton.

Having won the toss the hosts chose to bat and made good use of a flat track.

They raced to 37 before Prince Xavier, having been sent back by Adrian Pullin was smartly run out by Nick Dinnison.

Pullin went on to make amends by hitting a whirlwind century, the 40th of his career.

He gave one chance before he had reached his 50 when a high catch was put down by Rhys Davies off his own bowling.

This proved to be the turning point of the game. The second-wicket partnership between Pullin and Darren Paul took the game away from the visitors.

The score was on 206 when Paul went for 63, caught by Davies off the bowling of James Dunford. It looked as though 300 plus was on the cards but to their immense credit Uplyme did not let their heads go down.

They dismissed Collumpton for 264 taking the remaining eight wickets for 58 runs to keep themselves in the game.

Mark Batey took 4-29 from six overs while Davies and Dunford chipped in with two wickets apiece.

A steady start in reply was essential but it was not to be.

Batey was out first ball as he was caught behind.

He was quickly followed in similar fashion by Rob Thom for five and Dunford who did not trouble the scorers.

They all fell to an accurate spell from opener Kalaan Nessling who took 3-6 from five overs.

Uplyme regrouped and took the attack to the hosts with Nick Dinnison hitting some fine shots in his 45 before he nicked one to keeper Paul.

He was accompanied by Michael van den Berg who had flown in from Cape Town that morning and had been transported directly from Axminster station to the game.

Despite his far from ideal preparation he managed to contribute a well-made 31 before being caught on the boundary.

His demise ended the Uplyme resistance and the tail could only add a further 17 runs.

The innings closed on 130 with nine wickets down as Jed Whittington was unable to bat having dislocated a finger earlier in the field.

Uplyme entertain Barnstaple and Pilston this Saturday while the seconds travel to Kentisbeare. The club is hoping for a positive response this week.