THE 20-over Buckley Cup came to an exciting climax on Saturday at a windswept Rew Meadow.
Belstone needed to beat Spreyton and secure at least 11 points in the process to overtake Yeoford at the top of the table. Batting first, Spreyton found it difficult to score against accurate bowling, but after 13 overs had reached 67 for the loss of only 2 wickets, one to a superb running catch in the deep held by Mick Cowley. Belstone desperately needed more wickets to gain bowling points, and these came in a rush as Eddie Jones and Fraser Willis took the last 5 wickets for 5 runs, as Spreyton collapsed to 89 all out after 19.1 overs.
Spreyton's bowlers then struck back with tight bowling and sharp fielding from the start, so although Belstone kept wickets in hand the score had only reached 39 for 3 after 11 overs, with Blake especially effective with 2 wickets for 5 runs from his 4 overs.
With boundaries hard to come by, tension mounted as the acceleration began and wickets fell. With 2 overs left 19 runs were needed, reduced to 9 for the last over, bowled by Niven. His return of 3 wickets for 14 runs proved crucial as only 4 runs came from this final over leaving Spreyton the winners by 4 runs, and Yeoford the holders of the Buckley Cup for the first time.
Buckley Cup final table:
P W Pts
Yeoford 6 4 61
Belstone 6 4 59
Spreyton 6 2 45
Sticklepath 6 1 32