Uplyme boosted their C Division East promotion hopes when they became only the r second team this season to inflict a league defeat on one ten runway leaders Ottery St Mary, writes Alfie Jaques.

Uplyme skipper Steve Batye won the toss and opted to bat first on a good looking track at the KGV playing fields.

The home innings got off to the worst possible start with the loss of opener

Whittington to the fourth ball of the contest.

However, the in-form O’Hallaran joined Richards and the pair put on 90 for the second wicket before Richards fell for a fine knock of 30.

However, it was O’Hallaran who was to be the home star! The Aussie struck an outstanding 75 with a slick range of shots and was only out to a leg before decision that had more than a few home eye browns raised!

The two Batey’s, Mark and Steve, fell cheaply, as did Bellworthy, but Caddy stood firm to score an impressive 52, helping guide the home side to a close of 200.

Matt Reed was the pick of the Ottery bowlers with figures of 3-231 and another youngster, Billy Rudolph, claimed a brace of wickets for 25 runs.

The Ottery reply got off to a quick start with Rudolph and Flower flashing their respective blades at anything even slightly poor in line or length.

Uplyme made the breakthrough when Barraclough found Flower’s toe to have him trapped leg before for a knock of 20.

The next man to go was the divisions leading run scorer, Rudolph, caught well by Richards Then the league’s leading run scorer Rudolph was well caught by Richards and the youngster was followed back to the pavilion by three other batsmen to leave the Ottery reply a troubled 64-5.

Kelly and the Otters skipper Townsend briefly brought Ottery back in the game as they added 39 for the sixth wicket. However, they were separated when Townsend was caught by ‘safe-hands’ Harvey Brimicombe. There was brief resistance from Clements and Ollie Reed, as Kelly held his ground, but the final Ottery wicket fell with the score on 161 to leave Uplyme 39-run winners.

Ollie Lee continued his impressive form with 3-44 from nine overs and the others to return excellent figures were Barraclough (9-1-34-2) and skipper Batey (9-3-24-2).

See the tables now on page 75.