After a number of short-lived rain interruptions, a more protracted downpour finally put paid to last weekend’s clash between Ottery St Mary 2nd XI and struggling visitors, Abbotskerswell, writes Ian Townsend.

The Otters drew the short straw as they were invited to bat after stand-in skipper Rick Jackson lost the toss and, sure enough, batting proved a tough proposition in bowler friendly conditions, well exploited by the Abbots.

Nevertheless, Billy Rudolph (14) and Ed Fowler gave Ottery a solid 44-run start before the former bizarrely hit his own wicket attempting to cut young leg spinner, Matt Beasant.

Two further wickets swiftly followed as Beasant defeated Gavin Iley’s forward lunge to trap him lbw for a duck and youngster Harry Peters (2) ballooned a catch to Mike Rendell at point off Andy Lock. With the Otters struggling at 50-3, rain intervened to reduce the contest to 32 overs a side.

Having initially batted rather scratchily, on the resumption Fowler hit top form despatching a series of exquisite off drives as the scoreboard began to tick over. However, after a further rain delay, visiting seamer Tom Andrew struck in successive balls as Trevor Griffin (11) miscued a full toss to deep mid-on and Rob Johns (0) edged an outswinger behind to leave Ottery at 98-5.

There was just time for Fowler to unfurl two more cracking boundaries before the return of the rain was to prove terminal with the score on 117-5. Fowler remained unbeaten on a fine 67 including 13 boundaries.

Ottery St Mary 117-5 (E Fowler 67*, M Beasant 2-13, T Andrew 2-20 ) vs. Abbotskerswell.

Match abandoned – rain. Ottery St Mary 7pts, Abbotskerswell 8pts.