Despite fielding a painfully inexperienced team, Ottery St Mary 2nd XI got their season off to a terrific start as they comprehensively outplayed Barton to claim an impressive eight wicket victory from last weekend’s trip to Torbay, writes Ian Townsend.

Having been invited to bat first, Barton lost the early wicket of Stuart Bowker (9), caught by Zac Johns off fellow left armer, George Southall-Brown who, in tandem with Tom Hinch, produced an excellent opening spell. Alex Hunter (31) then batted soundly before edging Johns behind to vice-captain, Alex Clements who was making his captaincy bow in the absence of the injured Rick Jackson. Tony Bowker (12) was soon castled by Tom Jeacock but Morgan Harford (35 with five fours) unleashed some impressive drives before being bowled by Henry Mutter. Mark Lipton (22) kept the scoreboard moving but when he was trapped lbw by Alex Tubbs, from 124-5 in the 36th over, the innings went into terminal decline. Three wickets fell with the score on 135, Hinch (2-24) returning to trap Jamie Peters (4) lbw and lure Adrian Lipton (0) into a neat stumping by Clements before Johns’s fine spell (2-17) was further rewarded as he bowled Jim Parker for five. The return of Southall-Brown (3-27) saw the innings truncated to 139 all out as both Matt Sullivan and Cole Harford were bowled without troubling the scorers.

The Otters’ reply was in the mire at 27-3 after first veteran opener Barry Flicker (2) was bowled by Mark Lipton, Jeacock (6) was castled by Cole Harford and finally Mutter (1) was caught by Jack Bell off Peters. However, the visitors were then propelled to victory by a wonderful unbroken 117-run fourth wicket stand between Clements and teenage opener, Joe Henkus. The pair slowly wrested back the initiative before beginning to take the attack to the bowlers. Henkus showed his undoubted potential by batting in pleasingly correct fashion to reach his maiden 2nd XI fifty before opening up to post three maximums in an unbeaten 77 which also contained eight fours. Clements leant typically pugnacious support, finishing on an unbeaten 52 (six fours, one six) as the visitors cruised home with ten overs to spare.

The Otters’ skipper was afterwards full of praise for his young charges, enthusing: “It was great to see a side containing seven teenagers be so positive. We did the basics well - our ground fielding was very good and we bowled full and straight. And then Joe saw us home with a really well constructed innings.”

Otters Man of the Match – Joe Henkus.

Barton 139 (M.Harford 35, A.Hunter 31, M.Lipton 22, G.Southall-Brown 3-27, Z.Johns 2-17, T.Hinch 2-24) Ottery St Mary 144-3 (J.Henkus 77*, A.Clements 52*). Ottery St Mary (20pts) bt Barton (3pts) by 8 wkts.