IPPLEPEN made it two wins on the spin at the top of the B Division when they defeated visiting Ottery on run rate.

Jack Lewis, Mawgan Penrice and Sam deFriend all scored 60 or more in Pens’ total of 273 for five.

After interruptions for bad weather were factored in, Ottery needed 152 to win in 25 overs. They came up fractionally short on 143 for nine.

Only two Ottery batsmen made it into double figures – Dan Flower and Billy Reed – otherwise they probably would have won. A triple-wicket maiden by Jonny Norman had something to do with Ottery falling short.

Sam Wakeham, the Ipplepen captain, certainly thought the game was slipping away at one stage.

Ottery were 53 for one of 10, then went off for rain and they had a revised target of 153 off 25 overs.

“They needed 98 off 15 overs with nine wickets in hand - and were cruising at 125 for three with seven overs left.

“The rain came down again, we went off and Ottery were in front by five runs.

“With the game looking well and truly in Ottery’s hands, on came Jonny Norman, who bowled a triple-wicket.

“No one hung around long enough for ottery and wickets kept on falling and we got over the line by nine.

Wakeham made Norman his man of the match for ‘an unbelievable spell of bowling’.

Lewis (65), Penrice (70) and deFriend – 60 off 35 balls – were the main run getters for Ipplepen. Adam Peters had 34 and Wakeham 22 off nine balls.

Jody Clements (2-44) was the only Ottery bowler with a significant set of figures.

Flower (38) and Reed (54) took Otteryto100 for two.

Joe Abbott dispatched Reed the Norman (3-21) got to work as Ottery crumbled.

Losing captain Will Harrison was gracious in defeat, saying: ‘Ipplepen batted well and deserved the win.

“The reduced target gave us a chance, but we couldn't put the partnerships together to get over the line.”