Tipton St John returned to action with a visit from neighbours Ottery St Mary, who won the toss but struggled against opening bowlers David Birch and Owen Smith.  

Birch took the first five wickets to fall, as Ottery slumped to 42-5. Matters got worse for them when Matt Davies took two further wickets to reduce them to 57-7. Only Tom Jeacock (19) and Matt Jeacock (16) got into double figures. 

However, they were rescued by an 82-run eighth wicket partnership between Mark Gleeson and Ollie Fuller. Fuller was eventually caught on the boundary by John Buckland off Davies for 46 and he was quickly followed by Gleeson, bowled by Buckland for 44. Ottery were dismissed for 146 with Birch getting 5-16 and Davies 3-25. 

Tipton’s reply started well with a 69-run opening partnership between Phil Tolley (38) and Dave Thayre (32). Tolley’s runs took him to 1,000 for the season. 

Mark Gleeson and Matt Jeacock took two wickets each as Tipton stuttered on 82-4, losing Dave Alford for five and Buckland for two. However, an unbeaten partnership between Matt Brewster with 27 and Matt Davies 30 took Tipton home with six wickets and seven overs to spare. 

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