BELSTONE skipper Richard Drake was the star of the show with match winning innings in both of the team?s last two afternoon friendlies.

In the game against Paignton on 31 August he completed his second century for the club and at Exmouth last Sunday he featured in a new seventh wicket record partnership which hurtled Belstone to victory.

Belstone batted first at Paignton with opener Wayne Pearce contributing a solid 31 before being unluckily adjudged leg before. Cheap wickets fell at the other end leaving the stage set for Drake to dominate partnerships with Andrew Moppett (4) and Chris Spinks (15). He hit five sixes and thirteen fours in a stay of 83 balls, racing from 79 to 101 in just four balls off the hapless Stables.

A few typically lusty blows from Terry Jeal (10 not out) at the end took the score to 196 with only 34 of the 40 overs used.

In reply Paignton scored much slower. Six of the visitors? bowlers picked up wickets with Jonathan Parsons contributing a characteristically economical opening spell (one for 18 from six overs) and Spinks finishing proceedings with the last two wickets in his two overs to give Belstone a 67 run victory.

At the Maer, Exmouth?s immaculate Devon County ground, the home side won the toss and batted. Rob Sandercock?s leg spin accounted for two early wickets as they moved cautiously.

The innings was then dominated by a fine fourth wicket partnership of 103 between Adam Curtis, who hit six fours in his 53, and Nathan Hardy, who batted 66 minutes for 42 before being run out by a smart piece of work in the covers by Greg Cornish. An acceleration in the last ten overs took Exmouth?s score to 166 after 40 overs, eminently reachable on such a fast outfield.

Belstone began their reply poorly with Pearce bowled around his legs for a third ball duck.

With Downie claiming three cheap wickets with three of the worst balls he has probably bowled all season and an unnecessary mix-up which saw the end of Spinks, Belstone found themselves in deep trouble at 73 for six after 19 overs. Cornish, playing his first Belstone game of the season, then joined Drake and began the unbroken partnership which turned the game on its head.

In the next 46 exhilarating minutes and 69 balls they knocked up the 94 runs needed to win the game, Cornish finishing on 37 not out and the skipper with 63 not out, scored off 71 balls in 57 minutes with eleven fours.

Belstone?s final game of the season is this Sunday afternoon, at home to Hatherleigh, 2pm start.