Buckley cup

Belstone v Spreyton

IN their Buckley Cup match against Spreyton last week Belstone demonstrated one of their more spectacular collapses, falling from a reasonable 86 for three in the 17th over to a miserable 89 for nine at the end of their 20 overs.

Opener Phil Woods had retired on 25 and Chris Walpole (18) and Pete Gross (19) had kept the score going before the damage was done by Tony Niven, who took five wickets in the space of 12 balls while conceding just six runs.

For a while Spreyton's reply was kept in check by David Binns (4-0-12-0) and Phil Dennis (2-0-7-1) but Steve Wright (27 retired), and Ollie and Tony Niven, both undefeated on 23 and 12 respectively, made light of the run chase as the visitors cruised to a nine wicket victory with six overs to spare.

Tedburn St Mary v Belstone

Two evenings later Belstone visited Tedburn St Mary for their final Buckley Cup game of the season and both teams served up a feast of non-stop action.

Belstone shot off at eight an over until Richard Drake was unluckily run out for 20. All the middle order contributed useful runs although the rate dropped to around six an over as Alex Williams (4-1-12-2) and James Walker (4-0-29-3) chipped away at the wickets.

Seventeen off the final over including two sixes from skipper Andrew Paterson (18 not out) ensured that Belstone finished their 18 overs on 118 for seven.

Jonathan Parsons gave the visitors their best possible start as he bowled Allison with the first ball of Tedburn's reply but runs then came quickly as Russell Crang (14) and hard-hitting skipper Dave Rich (26 retired) got ahead of the required run rate at 60 for three after eight overs.

The next five overs went Belstone's way with only 17 runs added and four wickets lost with David Binns (3-0-16-3) benefiting from superb running catches in the deep by Paterson and Drake, so that with five overs left Tedburn needed an unlikely 41 with only three wickets remaining.

Lewis then joined Walker; they took 17 off the next over as two wide balls went to the boundary and Lewis hit a six off the otherwise economical Neil Rowlands (4-1-11-1), but the odds were still just on a Belstone win as the final over began with nine runs still needed. Lewis hit the first ball to the boundary but was bowled next ball by Paterson for 17; last-man Charlie Risdon blocked the third ball and nudged a single off the fourth – four to win off two balls.

The matter was settled in fine style as Walker dispatched the penultimate ball over extra cover for six to give Tedburn a two wicket win.

South Devon League

Raleigh v Belstone

Last Sunday's final South Devon League match between Belstone and Raleigh at Exmouth, the winner of which would have gained promotion to division one, ended before it began in yet another rain-induced cancellation. So Raleigh, by virtue of the 5 points each side takes from the fixture, secure the second promotion spot behind Plympton.