BELSTONE completed the double over Yeoford in a Buckley Cup match on July 1.
Batting first on a lush outfield slowed even further by recent rain, Belstone made a confident start with openers Pete Gross and Aidan Easterbrook retiring on 25 apiece.
Consolidation followed with a partnership of 37 between Chris Walpole (18) and Simon Tremain (19 not out, his fourth undefeated knock in five evening outings this season) before a flurry of three run-outs left the home side on 113 for six after their 20 overs.
Yeoford were just about up with the required rate at 28 for one in the sixth over with Cleave Collins (26 not out) going well, but then lost two wickets in Jonathan Parsons? final over.
Terry Jeal (5 for 20) then skittled through the middle order, twice taking two wickets in successive balls and only failing to bag a hat-trick when Hearn was dropped off a skier to long-on. Although Easterbrook bowled five wides in his first over he also claimed Yeoford?s final wicket as they were all out for 73 after 17 overs.
Last Saturday a youthful Belstone side ? seven players under 20 years old ? took to the field against Exeter Thirds and did well to restrict the visitors to a total of 98, with three wickets apiece for Harry Bushin, Rob Sandercock and Richard Drake.
Inexperience told when Belstone came to bat for although they started with an opening stand of 27, bowlers Smith, Browning and Lovell shared all ten wickets as extras top scored and only two batsmen reached double figures in an all out score of 67.
The following day Exeter St James visited Rew Meadow for a South Devon League division 2 clash. In another low scoring game dominated by bowlers where both sides only averaged about 2.5 runs an over, Belstone emerged the victors of a hard fought struggle by five wickets.
The tone of the match was set from the start when six of the first nine Belstone overs were maidens, Eddy Jones bowling to three slips, a gully, silly mid-off and silly mid-on. Top order batsmen David Thorn (32), Rob Norman (16) and ?Chalky? White (8) played patiently through 33 overs by which time the score had crept up to 84 for four.
Terry Jeal was the most successful of the bowlers, picking up his second five wicket haul of the week (5-13) as Exeter lost their last five wickets for six runs to finish on 90 all out (playing with ten men) with three of the 40 overs unused.
Belstone made heavy weather of their reply as accurate Exeter bowling and the difficult pitch - each side hit just six boundaries - kept the runs in check. However, all the top batsmen contributed as they eased home with just over two overs to spare, leaving Belstone jointly at the top of the division 2 table.
This Saturday is President?s Day at Belstone. The game starts at 11am with lunch and tea served in marquees on the ground. On Sunday there?s a home friendly against Torquay Thirds from 2.30pm.