Fielding probably their strongest side of a rather up and down season, Ottery St Mary 2nd XI proved to be far too strong for visiting Plymstock, writes Ian Townsend.

After an excellent bowling display in which left arm paceman Joe Birch starred, teenagers Dan Jeacock and Joe Henkus posted an impressive opening stand to put Rick Jackson’s men on the road to victory.

Danny Dyer (1) was an early casualty for the visitors as he edged Birch behind to Trevor Griffin before Paul Birleson and Rory Coltham compiled the highest stand of the innings, a solid 38 in 10 overs.

Coltham fell victim to another well directed spell from teenage seamer Tom Hinch (1-18 from seven overs) as he was bowled for 22 and when Birleson (15) was held by Alex Clements off Rich Reed, Plymstock stood at 44-3.

Reed (2-25) soon induced Julian Brailey (6) to edge behind to Griffin but despite left arm spinner Duncan Bradshaw-Smith (DBS) (2-24) bowling visiting skipper Rob Baker for a duck, Morgan Parkinson struck some solid blows to reach 30 from 39 balls (five fours) before holing out to Dan Jeacock, also off ‘DBS’.

Fraser Cowan (0) was smartly stumped by Griffin off Jeacock (1-15) after which the tail was blown away by the pace of Birch – Duncan Brace was caught by Clements for a useful 21, Tom Shears (4) pouched by Hinch and David Grant castled for a single as the left armer returned an impressive 4-28 from his eight overs. 139 all out appeared to be well under par.

Early wickets were essential if the visitors were to stand any chance of victory, but Jeacock and Henkus proceeded to tuck into numerous loose offerings, particularly from Coltham and Brailey, as the score rattled along to 83 at around six runs per over. Brace interrupted the fun, having Henkus (34 with five fours) caught by Brailey, but Jeacock continued unabated to post a fine fifty from 69 deliveries (six fours) before falling to a catch by Baker off Shears. Although the same bowler soon accounted for Clements, bowled for eleven, the experienced duo of Griffin (10*) and Ed Fowler (11*) guided the Otters home to a sixth victory of the season with 18 overs to spare, the former ending the contest in style as he lifted Shears for six.

Plymstock 139 (M Parkinson 30, R Coltham 22, D Brace 21, J Birch 4-28, R Reed 2-25, D Bradshaw-Smith 2-24) Ottery St Mary 141-3 (D Jeacock 52, J Henkus 34, T Shears 2-31). Ottery St Mary (20pts) bt Plymstock (3pts) by 7 wkts.