Having taken full advantage of a sub-standard surface to restrict their hosts to a modest total, Ottery St Mary 1st XI last weekend had cause to be grateful for their strength in depth in batting as they relied upon a terrific unbroken eighth wicket stand between Sam Lynch and Matt Reed to complete the double over Chagford, writes Ian Townsend.

Ottery vice-captain Rob Crabb produced a miserly opening spell conceding just three runs in four overs and, with fellow left armer Will Harrison picking up the wicket of Charles Fitzroy (5), courtesy of a brilliant gully catch by Matt Reed, Chagford were soon struggling. Occasional bowler, Billy Reed, then produced a fine spell to claim the wickets of Craig Penberthy (1) and the dangerous Jon Wright (26), both to catches at the wicket by Jack Pritchard. Divan Marais shared useful stands with Will Lammonby (5), who was bowled by left arm spinner Alex Thurgate, and Jacob Griffiths (30 with five fours), who was caught by Dan Flower off the returning Crabb, but just when it appeared that the prolific South African was well set, he was run out for 45 (six fours and a six) leaving Chagford at 124-5. As Thurgate and fellow spinner Matt Reed derived prodigious turn from the uneven surface, the lower order then struggled to get the ball away. Matt Reed, who returned 1-24 from nine excellent overs, was rewarded with the wicket of Duncan Manners-Chapman (4), bowled with a big off break, and Crabb (2-32) bowled Del Lammonby to end the skipper’s useful late cameo (21 from 20 balls). As the innings ended, a fine all round display from a depleted Otters’ bowling attack had restricted the total to a gettable-looking 178-8.

Ottery’s reply suffered an early blow as skipper Lewis Townsend (7) was adjudged lbw to Del Lammonby but Crabb, applying himself well in an unfamiliar opener’s role, and Billy Reed then batted solidly to add 52 in 10 overs. Having despatched some typically powerful boundaries, Crabb (36 with five fours) fell to a catch by Marais off youngster Will Lammonby. Jack Pritchard (4) was soon bowled by Dave Endacott and when Lammonby jnr. struck again, ending Billy Reed’s patient knock (31 from 61 balls), courtesy of a catch by Endacott, the Otters had slipped to 98-4. This soon became 119-7 as Flower (7) was caught off Will Lammonby (3-54) and Craig Penberthy removed Harry Conway (6) and Thurgate (1). The rot was halted by the in-form Sam Lynch who signalled his intentions with a first ball boundary. Well supported by Matt Reed, who began in equally positive fashion, the diminutive middle order man soon wrested back the initiative as anything loose was despatched in typically wristy fashion. Boundaries flowed from the bats of both men as the visitors raced to victory, an unbroken 61 being added in just seven overs as Lynch finished on an unbeaten 46 (32 balls, nine fours) and Reed on 26 not out.

A hard fought win for the Otters whose satisfied skipper reflected: “Really happy with the result. We bowled and fielded very well and kept them to a low total. After a bit of a stutter, the lower order got us over the line. Lynchy batted really well to see us home and it was great to see Reedy get some runs. As for his gully catch, well it was stunning!”

Chagford 178-8 (D Marais 45, J Griffiths 30, J Wright 26, D Lammonby 21, R Crabb 2-32, B Reed 2-40) Ottery St Mary 180-7 (S Lynch 46*, R Crabb 36, B Reed 31, M Reed 26*, W Lammonby 3-54, C Penberthy 2-37). Ottery St Mary (19pts) bt Chagford (7pts) by 3 wkts.