Last weekend’s visit of Brixham to Salston Field produced one of the most remarkable contests ever seen at the home of Ottery St Mary CC as an orgy of run scoring saw the home side cruise to yet another victory, writes Ian Townsend.

Home skipper Rob Crabb and Brixham’s former Barton and Devon all-rounder Andy Pugh both posted hard hitting centuries as an incredible joint total of 657 runs were scored!

Ottery openers Trevor Griffin and James Faulkner set the tone, taking advantage of an archetypal ‘road’ of a wicket to post a tremendous 155-run opening a stand in just 24 overs.

The home side faltered briefly as Faulkner (71) was stumped off James Tucker, Adie Pullin (1) fell to an excellent Pugh yorker, Billy Rudolph (2) was bowled by Adam Edwards and Griffin (74) was bowled by Pugh.

However, this was merely the signal for another astonishing innings from the prodigiously talented Crabb. The former Yarcombe all-rounder’s first 40 or so runs were a little scratchy and poor catching from the visitors gave him a number of ‘lives’, but subsequently carnage was unleashed as an awesome display of power yielded 122 runs from just 62 balls faced (15 fours and four sixes). Fine support came from Alex Clements with 52 from 45 balls (nine fours). Pugh (2-42) was easily the pick of the visiting bowlers whilst some of his colleagues, including Will Small (0-76 from six overs), will have nightmares for some time to come!

As Brixham replied, the Otters made the potentially disastrous error of missing a golden chance to run out the dangerous Pugh before he had scored.

The big hitting opener took full advantage sharing stands of 80 with the impressive Amanda Higginbottom (28), 94 with Wes Fowler (28) and 44 with Adam Edwards (44) as he raced to a fine 119 from just 91 balls (20 fours and a six). However, the run fest was ended by a combination of emerging U-15 talents, Billy Rudolph and George Southall-Brown, both of whom bowled with admirable control. Fowler and Pugh both fell to catches by Pullin off Rudolph (4-48) who claimed two more victims before Southall-Brown (3-37) cleaned up the tail in impressive fashion to dismiss the South Devon side for 283 giving the Otters a fine 91-run victory.

Ottery remain hard on the heels of second-placed Sidmouth 3rd XI and the coming weekend’s clash between the local rivals at Bicton Park is a mouth-watering prospect indeed!

Ottery St Mary 374-5 (R Crabb 122*, T Griffin 74, J Faulkner 71, A Clements 52, A Pugh 2-42, D Tucker 2-53) Brixham 283 (A Pugh 119, A Edwards 42, B Rudolph 4-48, G Southall-Brown 3-37). Ottery St Mary (20pts) bt Brixham (7pts) by 91 runs.