BELSTONE secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sticklepath in the 20-over Buckley Cup, making the 52 runs required with seven overs to spare.

Sticklepath never recovered from losing opener Hardy for a duck, run out by a fierce throw from Eddie Jones. None of the Belstone bowlers gave anything away and the visitors rapidly subsided to 22 for seven. Tim Butler and Richards-Mole then more than doubled the score until a flurry of action in the final over, bowled by Chris Spinks, saw Belstone gain maximum bowling points as the last three wickets fell.

In reply Wayne Pearce (21 not out) maintained his unbeaten form for the third evening game running as he and Eddie Jones (19) saw Belstone comfortably home.

Worcestershire touring side Holt and Grimley were the visitors to Rew Meadow on Friday evening. A sedate game, punctuated by a few bursts of excitement, boiled up into a final over of tension with Belstone needing nine to win.

Scoring proved difficult on a lush damp outfield but Clarke (26 not out) and Nicolson (19) played well for the visitors who had reached 50 for the loss of just one wicket when Chris Spinks began his third over, the 14th of the 20 allowed.

His first ball gave a hard missed chance to the keeper, the second ball was dropped in the gully, balls three, four and five were all caught and the last ball was defended, Spinks thus completing an excellent hat-trick, the second achieved by a Belstone player this season.

Only needing just over four an over to win Belstone began steadily with an opening partnership of 21 in seven overs, but then fell badly behind the rate as the next six overs only yielded six runs.

With five overs to go, rain and darkness falling, the home team needed 46 to win. Wayne Pearce then unleashed some powerful strokes off Ellwood?s slow bowling, plundering 19 from the over before retiring on 26 (Pearce is unbeaten with 126 runs from four evening innings).

Robert Hall and Chris Spinks continued to pick up ones and twos until that final over began, with Spinks facing. A scampered three and a cover drive for a couple left Hall needing a four off the last ball. With the boundary well guarded he lofted a good length ball from Harper over midwicket?s head and into the ropes on the furthest part of the ground to snatch victory.

Third game of the week took Belstone to Topsham on Sunday for a South Devon division two clash. Batting first on a dry pitch with fast outfield, Belstone openers Eddie Jones and Wayne Pearce treated Wallace (nine overs for just 16 runs) with respect but set about the bowling at the other end in a first wicket partnership of 146 in 83 minutes.

Pearce was the first to reach his 50 in even time off 61 balls, eventually hitting 13 fours and two sixes in his commanding 77. At the other end Jones reached his half century off 63 balls in 72 minutes, going on to score 69 in 98 minutes with eight fours and two sixes.

The introduction into the attack of Matt Barnes put a slight brake on the scoring as he worked almost single-handed through the Belstone line-up with accurate line and length bowling, finishing with impressive figures of seven wickets for 24 runs, as Belstone lost their last nine wickets for 57 runs.

Opponents Exeter St James fell behind the asking rate almost at once, pinned down by the accurate attack of Jonathan Parsons and Robert Hall. Barnes completed a fine all-round performance with 30 runs but when Hall nipped a fast one through Horne?s defences (breaking the bails in the process) the home team were never going to threaten. Change bowlers Pete Gross and Rob Sandercock completed the destruction, sharing five wickets, as Exeter St James were all out with over 12 overs remaining, still 118 runs short.

Dawlish and Teignmouth visit Rew Meadow for a South Devon League game this Sunday afternoon followed on Wednesday June 25 by an evening game against Tedburn St Mary in the Buckley Cup.