Belstone v Old Suttonians AFTER two Sunday wash-outs Belstone finally got their season underway with a convincing 104 run victory over visitors Old Suttonians. Belstone got off to a solid start with Dennis Edwards (18) and Matt Dennis, who mixed defence and powerful leg-side hitting in making 34 out of the opening partnership of 54 in 47 minutes. Alan Munton (9-2-18-2) and Paul Blank (8-0-35- 3) brought Old Sutts back into the game with some steady bowling before the middle order recovered thanks to Chris Gomersall (two sixes in his 27) and Phil Dennis (four fours in his run-a-minute 20). At the other end Chris Walpole held the lower order together for 52 minutes with 36 not out, including a last wicket partnership of 17 with Ryan Dennis, to give the home side a respectable 40-over total of 168 for nine. From the start of their reply Old Sutts struggled to get the ball past the inner ring of fielders and once the top three of Taylor (10), Horton (11) and Wollington (12) had gone with 33 on the board they folded completely in the face of a devastating spell from Gomersall, ably supported by James Munkenbeck (3-0-8-2). Gomersall finished with figures of five for six from 7.1 overs, his best figures since 2000 and his 17th haul of five or more wickets in an innings.
