Tipton St John went down by seven wickets in their derby meeting with Ottery St Mary, writes Jem Gillham.

Adam Gibbins, Tipton’s captain for the day won the toss and elected to bat.

In opposition were a stronger than usual Ottery Sunday XI for the Salston Field fixture.

Tipton’s openers Phil Tolley and Justin Quick put on a steady partnership for the first wicket before Tolley was adjudged leg before to the leg spin of Gitsham with the score on 41.

Dave Alford and Quick took the score to 98 before Quick was caught by Sam Tennant for a well crafted 44.

Strangely, Tennant, on as a substitute for Gavin Iley who had to go to hospital with what looked a badly damaged left thumb, then bowled four overs without consulting Tipton’s skipper!

Of some consolation to the Tipton side was the fact that he did not take any wickets!

Dave Alford was the next batsman to go, bowled by A Clements for 42 and Tipton’s innings closed after 40 overs on 172 for 6, with Alex Tubbs not out 27.

Tipton knew that it was going to be hard defending 172 and so it proved!

However, Dave O’Higgins struck twice in the sixth over removing A Dean and P Hardy to leave Ottery on 14-2.

Alex Thurgate (44) fell to a fine stumping by Dave Dawson from the sharply turning leg-breaks of Gibbins, who then caught and bowled Flicker (47) in his next over.

Despite his protestations to the umpire that he had hit the ball, Charlie Pritchard was given out leg before off the bowling of Alford, and a nimble bit of footwork saw Gibbins kick the ball directly to the stumps to run out Clements.

However, a quick fire 31 from the in-form Jack Pritchard saw Ottery home with seven overs go and three wickets to spare.