Upottery skipper has tea worries ended by batting display

Upottery skipper Mark Joyce endured a bitter sweet afternoon with his side on their visit to Cheriton Fitzpaine.

Joyce was unable to enjoy the home tea as he sat and pondered what he considered a sloppy fielding show from his side and as many as six dropped catches as the Cherries were bowled out for 174.

James Mitchum (3-23), Dan Broom (3-45) and Ryan Pullman (2-31) shared the wicket taking honours.

Joyce said about his tea time thoughts: “I was not happy. That was a dreadful show in the field with some very soft hands on show! I did not feel good about things and felt we had let them get a few too many runs and I told the lads just that. Happily they must have taken I what I said for the batters made up for any problems I felt we had seen before tea. The openers really did their work well and so I ended the day a happy chappie.”

Matthew Button-Stephens and Simon Durrant set about the home bowling with great gusto, putting on 124 before Button-Stephens became the only Upottery wicket to fall. He was dismissed for 69, but that brought James Mitchum to the wicket to join Durant and no further wickets were lost as Kilmington eased to a nine wicket win. Durrant was unbeaten on 79 and Mitchum had nine to his name when stumps were drawn.

Joyce said: “It sets us up nicely for the visit to Cullompton on Saturday. It’s a congested table that’s for sure with everyone showing they can beat anyone in the section on their day. We got to Cully looking to win, but I’ll be urging the lads to deliver a far better performance in the field, that’s for sure!”