Sadly, for Ottery St Mary 2nd XI the home fixture with high flying Tiverton Heathcoat followed a similar pattern to the reverse fixture earlier in the season as Rick Jackson’s men slipped to a heavy defeat, writes Ian Townsend.

After visiting skipper James Davis won the toss and chose to bat, Heathcoat were soon into their stride as openers Chris Small and Jack Lockwood tucked into the bowling of Tom Hinch and Zac Johns.

The two seamers conceded an eye-watering 84 runs between them in just 12 overs as Small raced to 70 from just 56 deliveries (12 fours) before falling to a catch by Joe Henkus off left arm spinner Duncan Bradshaw-Smith (2-42).

The same combination soon accounted for Lockwood (34 with six fours) and Matt Parkes was pouched by Johns off Rob Bradshaw-Smith (1-46) to leave Tivvy at 113-3 but that was as good as it got for the Otters.

After a circumspect start, Will Thompson started to play expansively and despite losing partners Steve Harding (26) and Lee Dickson (8) to Dan Jeacock (2-50), the middle order man blasted seven fours and four sixes in reaching a terrific undefeated 95 from just 71 deliveries to boost the visitors to a daunting 273-5. Davis remained 21 not out.

After the early loss of Henkus, bowled by Thompson for a single, the Otters’ reply never really got off the ground.

Dan Jeacock (17) gave a return catch to Thompson (2-16) and Rob Bradshaw-Smith (14) was bowled by Martin Williams as the pitch began to show variable bounce, leaving Ottery at 34-3.

Alex Clements and Anthony Dean stopped the rot by adding 47 in 12 overs before Clements (29) was caught by Dan Elliott off Williams. The score plunged to 89-5 as Duncan Bradshaw-Smith was run out for a duck and Tom Jeacock (0) was trapped lbw by the excellent Williams (3-27). Dean’s 60 ball vigil was ended at 21 as he gave a catch to Small off Elliott after which Jackson and Johns added a rapid 34 for the eighth wicket.

However, when Johns (16 from eight balls) was bowled by Small, the end was nigh. Jackson was soon bowled by Elliott (3-22) and last man Richard Reed immediately presented Small with a catch off the same bowler as the Otters crashed to 146 all out and a 127 run defeat.

Tiverton Heathcoat 273-5 (W Thompson 95*, C Small 70, J Lockwood 34, S Harding 26, J Davis 21*, D Bradshaw-Smith 2-42, D Jeacock 2-50) Ottery St Mary 146 (A Clements 29, R Jackson 23, A Dean 21, D Elliott 3-22, M Williams 3-27). Tiverton Heathcoat (20pts) bt Ottery St Mary (4pts) by 127 runs.