BELSTONE'S decision to put Old Suttonians in to bat on Sunday April 26 quickly paid off as Harry Bushin (4-0-6-2) made early inroads to leave the visitors on 11 for two in the eighth over.

Old Sutts struggled from then on, only finding the boundary five times in their 40 overs, although the Belstone attack could only winkle out three more batsmen as the score crept up to a finish of 113 for five.

With plenty of overs available Belstone openers Wayne Pearce and Scott Tremain set about their reply cautiously, content to wait before punishing the bad ball.

The stand gathered momentum over 25 overs reaching exactly a century (only the sixth three figure opening partnership for Belstone since 1993) before Pearce, who had just hit a four and a six earlier in the over from Bettison, advanced too far down the pitch and was stumped by Wallington for 45.

Skipper Tremain carried serenely on, ending Belstone's convincing 8-wicket victory with a boundary to leave him unbeaten on 64.

Last Sunday Belstone's first match in the North Devon League was a thrilling affair, played against Petrockstowe who were taking part in their first-ever game of league cricket after eight years of friendlies.

For threequarters of the match all the batsmen – with one outstanding exception – struggled to time the ball on a spongy pitch which soon cut up and had everyone playing far too soon.

This was soon evident as Belstone slumped to 31 for three in the eighth over with catches spooned to the infield off Richard Luxton (9-1-28-2) and Nigel Cockwill. A partnership of contrasts followed between a dominating Richard Drake and a dead-bat Chris Walpole which rattled up 116 (the club's second highest fourth wicket stand) of which Walpole's contribution was just 13 runs.

At one end during the stand Lee Cockwill was able to bowl nine overs of good length turning deliveries for only seven runs, while at the other Drake was merciless on anything loose with Scantlebury going for 52 off six overs.

Starting his innings with two sixes, Drake hit three more plus 11 fours, survived one dropped boundary catch when on 48, and eventually holed out in the deep, just three short of what would have been a well-deserved century.

After this whirlwind Nigel Cockwill returned to snap up late wickets with figures of six for 38 from his nine overs before the innings ended on 177 for nine after 45 overs.

Petrockstowe got off to a very slow start, losing three wickets for 12 after eleven overs with Jonathan Parsons including three maidens and taking two for six by that stage.

Halfway through the innings batting conditions eased as the pitch dried out and a sense of urgency came into the home team. First Richard Kelsey (21) and then Ben Mason (32) joined Lee Cockwill in partnerships which saw the score climb quickly into three figures as they ran well between the wickets.

Belstone kept chipping away with wickets at critical times, especially so when Wayne Pearce bowled Cockwill for a fine 39 to make the score 136 for eight. Opening bowler Gary Sizmur (8-1-20-2) returned to tie up one end while Drake capped his man-of-the-match performance by picking up three late wickets for 11 runs as Petrockstowe were finally all out 28 runs short with 23 balls remaining.

This Sunday's home game at Rew Meadow from 2.30pm is a friendly against Victoria Park from Bideford.