HARRY EVERETT REPORTING
OTTERY St Mary became the fourth and last team to make it through to finals day at Cornwood tihs Sunday in the Ivor Dewdney-sponsored Corinthian Cup when they defeated Upottery in their delayed quarter-final encounter.
Already through to the last four were finals day regulars Stoke Gabriel, Heathcoat 2nd XI and Cullompton.
On an overcast evening Upottery won the toss and chose to bat first. They got off to a great start with Ryan Pulman hitting four fours in the third over.
Upottery slipped from 30-0 from three overs, to finish on 98 for seven from the 20 overs. Ryan Pulman top scoring with 53 from 55 and Jack Smith, 26 from 31.
Ottery’s tight bowling and fielding tied Upottery down with Freddie Eul-Barker finishing with four for two from two overs and Daniel Alford one for 14 from four.
Ottery made a steady start with the bat, Upottery not taking any wickets but with good fielding and tight bowling keeping the run rate in the back of Ottery’s minds.
Then with his last ball Ryan Pulman made the breakthrough followed by his replacement, James Mitcham, taking two wickets in his first over. The second of which was to dismiss the Ottery overseas Keith Moody with an outstanding (misjudged), one-handed, diving catch from Jack Smith on the boundary.
The flurry of four quick wickets slowed Ottery but John Buckland and Sam O’Nyons were unnerved by the tight bowling and mounting pressure. Both took a few overs to get themselves in before accelerating away and finishing the game with 3.5 overs remaining. John Buckland finished 23 not out, level with opening batsman Harsha Liyanage, 23. James Mitcham the pick of the Upottery bowlers with three for 26 from his four overs.
Thanks to Andrew Pulman for some help reporting on the final quarter-final of this year’s competition. Click here for details of the other quarter-finals.
See previous piece for the first three last eight matches: http://www.devoncricket.co.uk/page.php?Id=7241
Ottery won through to face Cullompton on pitch two at Cornwood in their semi-final. Stoke Gabriel, who have reached five previous finals days without ever lifting the trophy, are up against Heathcoat 2nd XI on pitch one. Both games start at noon. The final will commence at 3pm.
Sunday, August 20 has been set aside as the reserve day for the finals in the event of bad weather.
Cornwood CC’s Oak Park ground is in Hallamore Lane, Cornwood, Ivybridge, PL21 9RP https://cornwood.play-cricket.com/
