ABBOTSKERSWELL got back in the groove after their weekend off with a comfortable 102-run win at Ottery St Mary.

The 20-point maximum helped Abbots make up for the rain off against Bideford seven days earlier and keep them in touch with the top four.

Abbots can do something about the deficit 12-ppoint between them and the promotion pack by winning at Tavistock this Saturday as the Moorlanders are the team directly above them.

Abbots lost Charlie Mitchell early, but a second-wicket stand of 94 between Elliott Adams (67) and Ton Keily (51) got Abbots going. It was Adams’ first senior half century for Abbots.

Rob Crabb (3-30) and Jody Clements (2-32) slowed Abbots’ middle order for a while until Richard Acton picked up the tempo.

Acton, making his first appearance this season, hit 63 off 71 balls as Abbots advanced to 286 all out in the last of their 45 overs.

Along the way Acton shared stands of 70 with Connor Adams (26) and 58 with Noah Tobias (34).

Joe Birch came back at the end to pick up two more wickets for a three-for-52 haul.

Ottery were all out in reply for 184 – and never looked like getting anywhere in range of the target after dipping to 85 for four – Keily (3-25) bagging a brace.

Crabb (56) and Harry Conway (36) put on 68 for the fifth wicket, earning Ottery some batting bonus points.

Connor Adams (5-27) broke the stand and with Crabb out of the way the last six wickets went for 29 runs.

Abbots skipper Charlie Hill said the bowlers built pressure from the start and Ottery struggled to cope.

“As always our openers kept it tight, taking early wickets and the rest of our bowlers bowled tightly in the middle overs,” said Hill.

“Connor Adams bowled with great control.

“It was a good 20 points which keeps us in the hunt, but we are expecting a tough game next against Tavistock.”

Ottery go to Filleigh this Saturday for a basement battle.

Click here to read more B Division reports