After dropped catches and batting lacking in application saw Ottery St Mary 2nd XI slip to defeat against visiting Ipplepen, the Salston Field outfit will at least have taken consolation from a hugely promising league debut by Ed Fane-Trefusis. The 18 year old followed up a useful lower order innings with a highly impressive display of pace bowling to claim four wickets in last weekend’s narrow reverse which saw the Otters slip to the foot of the table, writes Ian Townsend.

Asked to bat first on a rather ’up and down’ track, Ottery lost the early wickets of Barry Flicker (6) and Ed Fowler (6). However, Trevor Griffin was batting nicely and, in partnership with Matt Reed (12), took the total to 65 before the latter was unfortunate to edge a lifting ball from Keith Bell into the hands of slip via the keeper’s helmet! Griffin (40) lifted Bell for an effortless maximum over wide long-on but was then trapped lbw by the same bowler to leave the score at 86-4. The introduction of Kiwi import Sam Barratt saw two more home batsmen perish as skipper Rick Jackson (6) aimed a big drive at a ball which stopped slightly to be caught by Bell at mid-on and Rob Crabb (7) managed to deposit a lofted drive straight down the throat of Simon Tapley at long on.

Lewis Townsend (12) briefly resisted before totally miscuing a high full toss to give a return catch to Graham Peach and when Anthony Dean (16) was bowled playing across a full ball from the same bowler, at 133-8 the Otters looked unlikely to post a competitive total.

Fane-Trefusis immediately began to unleash some impressive drives and the 150 arrived in the 39th over. Well supported by Louis Biggs (12*), the youngster continued to flourish until, with his score on 35 (6 x 4s), he aimed a big leg side hit at Barratt and was bowled.

Louis and Keith Biggs (20*) fashioned an excellent unbroken 10th wicket stand of 32. The Otters totalled a useful 198-9, the last two wickets adding 65 runs. Barratt (3-49) was the pick of the visiting bowlers.

In reply, Ipplepen were given a jet propelled start by Jeff Heath who blasted a terrific 52 from 38 balls.

Despite Keith Biggs trapping Barratt (7) lbw and Fane-Trefusis castling Jake Peach (2) with just his second delivery in league cricket, when Heath was also bowled by the youngster, the total stood on 67 after just 11 overs. However, Fane-Trefusis’s pace, well-supported by Reed’s nicely flighted off spin, began to rein in the scoring rate.

Tom Cooper (1) was beaten for pace and bowled by Fane-Trefusis and Johnny Ranjit (16) departed. From 103-5, Tapley (34) and Graham Peach (21) steadied the ship before both fell victim to the off spin of Townsend. Ipplepen were struggling at 153-7, but spirited lower order resistance of their own then frustrated the Otters. Well supported by Tom Crocker (23), Curtis struck a series of fine blows during which he survived a critical straightforward chance to Dean at mid-on and, despite his partner becoming Fane-Trefusis’s fourth victim, the left hander guided his team to a narrow two wicket victory with an unbeaten 29. Fane-Trefusis returned an excellent 4-36 from his 11 overs.

The outcome of forthcoming encounters with fellow strugglers such as Kingsbridge and Bideford will be pivotal in determining whether Ottery avoid an immediate return to C Division cricket.

Otters Man-of-the-Match – Ed Fane-Trefusis