After the previous week’s terrific win at Barton, Ottery St Mary 2nd XI last weekend returned to earth with a resounding crash as a woeful batting performance saw them soundly beaten by visiting Hatherleigh, writes Ian Townsend.

As the normally frugal George Southall-Brown produced a wayward opening spell, the visitors were given a rapid start by skipper Ross Cherrington (18) and Jared Lovell who added 49 in just eight overs before the former was bowled to become the first of four victims of a fine spell from teenage seamer, Tom Hinch.

Michael Jones was trapped lbw by the same bowler for a second ball duck but Lovell (65 with nine fours and a six) was batting solidly as the score reached 110 before he was well held by Henry Mutter off left armer, Zac Johns (2-39). Ed Jones (0) was immediately bowled by Johns but Sean Forrester (41) was batting solidly to take the score to 193 before he was bowled to become Hinch’s third victim.

The ubiquitous youngster then ran out Nick Rogers (23) before completing his haul of 4-26 from nine overs as Tom Strawbridge (2) was smartly stumped by Trevor Griffin. 203-9 appeared to be around par on a dry but slightly uneven wicket.

The Ottery reply was plunged into disarray as last week’s batting hero, Joe Henkus (0) produced a loose drive to be pouched in the covers by Jones off Cherrington , then Jebez Weale (2-24) claimed two quick wickets. Steve Forbes was cleaned up first ball by a fine in-swinging yorker after which veteran opener Barry Flicker (11) was caught by Forrester. Griffin was batting carefully amongst the carnage and, in partnership with skipper Alex Clements, he steadied the ship from 29-3, adding 37 in nine overs before edging Strawbridge (2-22) behind to depart for 29 (four fours and one six).

When Clements (9) was then immediately caught by Rogers to become the first of three scalps for Richard Tidball (3-17), the skids were really under home side whose lower order proceeded to produce a further series of poor shots as they slipped to a resounding 104-run defeat, the last four wickets disappearing for a paltry seven runs.

There can be no excuses for the Otters who will be looking for a vastly improved display from this weekend’s trip to Tiverton Heathcoat.

Hatherleigh 203-9 (J.Lovell 65, S.Forrester 41, N.Rogers 23, T.Hinch 4-26, Z.Johns 2-39) Ottery St Mary 99 (T.Griffin 29, R.Tidball 3-17, E.Jones 2-9, T.Strawbridge 2-22, J.Weale 2-24). Hatherleigh (20pts) bt Ottery St Mary (4pts) by 104 runs.