Upottery remain very much in the D Division East promotion race after a nine run Glebe Park win over Topsham St James.

The visitors won the toss and invited Upottery to bat first, but the home effort was hit early on with Matt Broom being run out having still to register a run!

James Mitcham was next man in – and out – caught for nine to leave Upottery 22-2. Jack Larcombe joined opener Simon Durrant and they set about repairing the innings, adding exactly 100 before Larcombe fell to a catch for a knock of 32. Durrant fell just six runs later, but not before he had scored a terrific 61.

There were middle-order runs from Rob Tasker (32) and Ryan Pulman (28) which helped Upottery to their close of 192-7 after 45 overs.

When the visitors batted Ryan Pullman struck almost immediately with wicketkeeper Michael Arscott holding the catch. The reply was then steadied and it was not until the introduction of second change of James Mitcham that the second wicket was claimed. At 156-4 Topsham St James looked to have worked their way into a match winning situation, but it was third and fourth change bowlers Rob Tasker and Jack Larcombe that swung things back Upottery’s way. Larcombe bagged a brace to finish with figures of 2-28 from five overs while Tasker did even better with his return being 3-31 from seven overs and the visitors reply ended just nine runs short on 183-9.

The other successful home bowlers were Paul Wakefield (2-28 from nine), Ryan Pulman (1-22 from six) and James Mitcham (1-25 from nine).

This Saturday (August 12), Upottery entertain a Kentisbeare side that will start the game sitting third in the table, three points and one place above Upottery.

With just 27 points between leaders Barnstaple and Pilton and fifth placed Honiton, there’s much to play for in the section over the final four games of the campaign.