CHUDLEIGH outplayed Belstone in all departments last Sunday to retain their top of the table position in Division Two of the South Devon League.
Winning the toss and batting Australian man-of-the-match Tim Smith was quickly into his stride with powerful lofted strokes to and over the boundary. Escaping from a sharp caught and bowled chance while still in single figures and let off again on 99, he dominated Chudleigh?s innings with 10 fours and 10 sixes, eventually being second out for a fine 136 with the score on 172. Belstone continued to find wickets elusive as Chudleigh finished their 40 overs on 212 for four.
For a moment at the end of the third over of Belstone?s reply, with the score rocketing along at 26 for one, a close finish looked possible.
But when Eddie Jones was out for a hard-hitting 42, deceived in the flight by spinner Paul Stephens, with the score on 62, the innings crumbled.
Stephens took all the first four wickets for 19 while Smith?s leg-spin also proved effective as he bowled Drake and Mortimore around their legs.
Belstone struggled to 100 all out to claim a single batting point, which was promptly negated as they had arrived without an umpire.
Buckley Cup Table P Pts
Belstone 6 73
Spreyton 6 61
Tedburn St Mary 6 41
Sticklepath 5 36
Yeoford 5 36