Upottery batsmen have a day to remember

Upottery cricketers had a day to remember on the second Saturday of August as the two senior elevens managed to score 583 runs whilst losing just nine wickets.

Pride of place goes to the first eleven who rifled their way to a whopping 381-7 in their game at Culmstock. Upottery skipper Mark Joyce won the toss and opted to bat and saw his batsman use the willow to great effect! James Mitchum, having a superb season with the villagers, tops cored with 121 and Rob Tasker weighed in with 92, the pair putting on 177 for the third wicket! Adam Pullman chipped in with 42 and skipper Joyce scored an unbeaten 26.

Culmstock put bat to ball themselves, but only to the tune of 2-01 as Mitchum completed a superb afternoon’s work with four wickets for 30 runs and there was a brace of wickets for Brian Pullman.

Meanwhile Upottery 2nd XI were eight wicket winners at home to Exmouth III. The visitors were restricted to 2300-7 with Sam bath (2-55) and Stuart ‘Willow’ Drew (2-33) the main wicket takers.

That score was never enough to stop the rampant home batsman as Jason Kennard hit an unbeaten 84 and his uncle, Duncan Kennard, thumped an unbeaten 58 as just two wickets were lost in a successful run chase.

First eleven skipper Joyce said: “It was a good day all-round and a pity that we don’t see more of this from the teams. The batsmen at Culmstock hit the ball very hard and very cleanly. There were plenty of sixes, but I think we only lost the one ball which’s quite something given the carnage that was going on!”