Bideford up to third after overpowering 10-man Ottery

BIDEFORD are up to third in the B Division table following their 83-run win over 10-man Ottery St Mary.

Opener Matt Shepherd top scored with 45 for Bideford in their total of 178 for nine in a 30-over game.

Shepherd and James Ford (21) opened up with 59 and there were contributions lower down from Ollie Hannam (25) and Jamie Lathwell (22no).

Lathwell and Josh Atkinson (11) put on 30 for the ninth wicket in the dying overs.

Dan Jeacock (3-38) picked up some late Bideford wickets. Ollie Reed (2-17) and Jody Clements (2-18) kept the scoring down in the middle overs.

Ottery were all out for 95 with an over to go – Clements top scoring on 21.

Seamers Paul Heard and Fred King were mean with the new ball and when Ottery tried raising the tempo wickets fell to Lathwell (3-12).

After Clements and Jeacock (13) were broken up – they put on 42 for the third wicket – batters came and went regularly.

Jack Ford hastened Ottery’s demise with three tail enders for 20 runs.

Heard said Ottery’s positive attitude – and that of the umpires – enabled the game to go on.

On how the game panned out, Heard said: “We struggled in the middle order to find gaps, but the lower order did well.

“We managed 176 which was about par I thought.

“When we bowled we were disciplined and picked up wickets without conceding many runs.

“Jack Ford came on and picked up 3 at the end to make sure we bowled them out.”

Bideford have the chance to get ahead of Shobrooke Park and claim second place this Saturday when the two teams clash at Westward Ho!

Ottery, who are rock bottom and already 16 points adrift, are away to Tavistock.