STICKLEPATH visited Rew Meadow for a Buckley Cup game last week with Belstone winning easily by nine wickets. Sticklepath won the toss and elected to bat first.
After two overs Sticklepath were 12 without loss but this soon changed when Phil Woods was introduced into the attack. Woods (3-0-3-2), bowling quickly down the hill, dismissed both openers in his first over.
With Aidan Easterbrook (4-2-3-2) bowling equally well from the other end, Sticklepath were soon reduced to 18 for four after eight overs.
Pete Gross (3-1-8-3) and Chris Walsh (3.4-0-13-3) then combined to run through the middle and lower order. Sticklepath were finally dismissed in the 15th over for just 40 runs.
Belstone were never in danger in their reply to Sticklepath?s total. Dennis Edwards (14) and Wayne Pearce (13) got them off to a solid start against some accurate bowling from Mortimer and Nigel Letheren.
After Edwards was dismissed, Pearce and Simon Jefferies (14), in his first game for Belstone, wrapped up victory in the 12th over. Belstone have now won both their Buckley Cup games this season.
l An outstanding game of division 1 South Devon League cricket came to a tense climax on Sunday when Roborough visited Rew Meadow.
Rob Sandercock began the final over with the visitors on 218 for six, needing seven to win. Robert Gaylard (20 no) and Berry (10 no) ran four singles and a scampered two leaving one run required off the last ball.
With all the fielders close in the final ball came off Gaylard?s pad and in a flurry of running, diving and wicket breaking Berry got home to clinch a four-wicket win for Roborough.
Such excitement looked unlikely at the start of the game as Belstone, put in by the visitors, reached an uncertain 62 for three at the halfway 20-over stage.
Their innings was transformed by a partnership of 138 for the fourth wicket in 20 overs between Wayne Pearce (72) and skipper Richard Drake (81), both of whom hit nine fours and two sixes.
Phil Woods continued the acceleration with a quick-fire cameo of 34 not out including six fours as Belstone?s second 20 overs produced a further 162 runs, giving them a total of 224 for seven.
In reply Roborough were always close to the asking rate of 5.5 an over, especially when Ian Wheaton and Danny Moffatt (51) put on 103 for the fifth wicket, Wheaton hitting seven fours and five sixes in his 83.
With far-flung fields Belstone desperately defended their total but missed a couple of chances to break through before both fell to the bowling of Pete Gross (9-0-41-2) who, with Colin Wyatt (9-3-45-3) was the most successful home bowler.
With 29 then still needed off five overs the stage was set for that thrilling finish.
l For next Sunday?s South Devon League match Belstone travel to Pinhoe, who a few weeks ago posted a massive 40-over score of 423 against the luckless Ashburton. Buckley Cup evening action this week sees Yeoford visit Rew Meadow today (Thursday), followed next Wednesday by Belstone?s visit to Tedburn St Mary.