DORSET suffered a crushing 272-run defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Devon who leapfrogged them near the foot of the Unicorns Championship Western Division table.

Jigar Naik (43) remained undefeated as Dorset were bowled out for 186 in their second innings at Sidmouth – the same total they had been dismissed for in their first innings.

Devon batted Dorset out of the match by piling up 644 runs during their two innings, adding 218 for five to the 426 for six they had amassed on the first day.

Chasing an improbable 459 for victory, Dorset made a dreadful start to their second innings and were soon in trouble at 27 for three.

Josh Digby was caught by Ben Green off the bowling of Josh Bess before the Devon skipper accounted for Luke Webb first ball.

Luke Bess snaffled a catch off the bowling of Bashley's Dan Goodey to dismiss Somerset Academy man Ben Wells as wickets continued to tumble.

A partnership of 30 for the fourth wicket between Ed Ellis and Alex Eckland briefly checked Devon's progress.

But Eckland (23) perished with the score on 57 before Ellis and Josh McCoy shared 40 for the fifth wicket.

Ellis (37) hit four fours and three sixes in his 45-ball stay which ended when he was caught by Josh Bess off the bowling of Jamie Stephens (3-47).

McCoy soon followed as Dorset lurched to 103 for six before skipper Chris Park fell with the score on 118.

Mark Wolstenholme (28) hit three fours and two sixes in his 25-ball stay before Jon Legg and Ed Bartlett became Josh Bess's (5-33) fourth and fifth victims as Naik was left stranded as Dorset were put out of their misery.

A third defeat of the season saw them slip to second-from-bottom ahead of their final game against leaders Berkshire at North Perrott, starting on September 2.