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Belstone v Ditchling

SUSSEX tourists Ditchling visited Rew Meadow on 19 June and posted an impressive 236 for 9, including 11 sixes, off 30 overs. Opener Matthew Searce led the way with a powerful 83 in just 51 minutes with 10 boundaries and four sixes before he fell to a steepling catch by Gary Stickland off Chris Walsh to make the score 116 for five after only 13 overs.

The run rate dropped a bit after his dismissal with Vic Marks bowling the only maiden of the innings whilst Scott Tremain took three for 35 and Andrew Finley two for 36, but Chris Atkinson with 49 and Nigel Adams with 27 not out ensured a formidable target was set.

Belstone reached 100 in the 20th over and made another hundred in the next ten overs as Chris Walpole (42), John Coburn (62 not out) and Marks with a lightning burst of 40 runs in 15 minutes upped the rate but Ditchling always had the match under control running out comfortable winners by 32 runs.

North Devon League

Belstone v Barnstaple and Pilton

Next day Belstone maintained their 100% start in the league with a convincing six wicket home victory over Barnstaple and Pilton.

The visitors began cautiously reaching 46 for one in the 13th over before Martin Ash – better known as Sam Spoons from the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – was needlessly run out for 27. The key partnership came for the fourth wicket as Joe Chugg (46) and Fewings (37) put on 89, helped by a series of wides which eventually reached 23. Once they were out the innings stuttered to an all out total of 186 with Jonathan Parsons the most successful bowler taking three for 27 from nine overs.

Belstone were quickly ahead of the modest asking rate as skipper Phil Woods hit his stride, well supported by Peter Harlow, their partnership reaching 111 in 76 minutes and 25 overs before Harlow was caught for 30. Wayne Pearce joined Woods to add another 66 in eight overs by which time the captain had reached his second century of the season, scored off 81 balls at a run-a-minute with 11 fours and two sixes. By the time he was out for 116 Belstone only needed ten to win which they achieved with more than nine overs to spare.

C and G trophy

Belstone v

C and G All Stars

THE following day the annual C and G Trophy match hosted by Chris Walsh of C and G Plastering Services saw another Belstone win, this time by 78 runs.

Scott Tremain got Belstone off to a good start with seven fours and a six in his run-a-minute 55, sharing a second wicket partnership of 62 with Peter Harlow (11).

Useful contributions came all down the order from Jimmy Ewen (32), Chris Walpole, who recovered from taking 30 minutes to score his first run to finish with a half century in 71 minutes and Chris Gomersall (22 not out) as the score mounted to 207 for seven from 40 overs.

Tidiest of the bowlers was Terry Jeal (5-0-17-1) while most successful were skipper Walsh (8-1-42-2) and Andrew Finley (7-0-33-2).

In reply the C and G All Stars reached a promising 49 before opener Simon Jefferies miscued to Luke Wonnacott off Tremain for 13, but the only other stand of note was the 38 put on for the fifth wicket between the other opener Vic Marks and Finley which ended with a direct hit throw from Tremain to send back Finley for 11. Marks continued to hold the innings together as wickets fell steadily at the other end, reaching his fifty in 80 minutes before eventually being ninth out caught at long on by Phil Woods off Wonnacott for a defiant 75.

The game ended next delivery as skipper Walsh spooned his first ball to silly mid on.