Ashburton v Belstone BELSTONE travelled to Ashburton on Sunday for a South Devon League match and emerged victorious by 61 runs in a low scoring game. Put in to bat, the visitors made a slow start with opener Richard Drake (1) falling to a great catch by Harry McDowell at point in the fourth over. Pete Gross (8) and Wayne Pearce (40) led a recovery but fine bowling by Matt Coon (7-5-3-1) meant that Belstone were struggling at 46 for 3 after 20 overs. When Pearce was bowled by Hibbert (6-0-24-2) in the 25th over, Phil Woods (26) played a very controlled innings while Chris Gomersall (10) and Harry Bushin (15) attempted to increase the scoring rate. Woods was bowled by Russell Lacey (6.3-2-24-3) and the remaining batsmen found it hard to score runs. Belstone were all out for 121 in the 36th over which represented a competitive score on a damp wicket with inconsistent bounce. In reply, Ashburton got off to a sluggish start against some accurate and hostile bowling by Aidan Easterbrook (7-5-4-3) and Bushin (8-3-13-3). It wasn?t until the sixth over that a run was scored with the score 5 for 4 after 12 overs. George Marshall (28) tried his best to lead a recovery with some fine leg-side shots but lacked support from his team-mates. ?Brucie? Walsh (5.1-0-17-2) and Gross (2-0-3-2) continued to apply the pressure with some fine swing bowling. Belstone?s fielders also did well with good outfield catches taken by Woods, Scott Tremain and Andrew Hooper. The home team were eventually bowled out for 60 in the 27th over. This was the fifth consecutive victory by Belstone over Ashburton in South Devon league matches. Belstone man-of-the-match: Aidan Easterbrook. This Sunday Belstone travel to Torquay for a league match followed by a Buckley Cup game at Sticklepath on June 7.
