RECORDS tumbled on Sunday when Belstone played North Devon thirds at Instow, in front of the unique thatched grade II listed pavilion, dating back to the 1830s.

Phil Woods was dismissed for 12 and Chris Walpole joined Scott Tremain as the North Devon bowlers began to toil under the boiling sun.

Walpole was first to his 50 in 80 minutes, Tremain following after 115 minutes.

As the partnership passed 181 it became the highest second wicket stand in the club's history. It was a red-letter day all-round for the 55-year old veteran, who reached his first ever century for school or club with a push into the covers, after a mere 26 years of cricket. The 211-run partnership – a new all-wicket highest – finally ended when Walpole skied the first ball of the final over back to bowler Kasey Elliot and was out for 105, including 11 fours. This left Tremain on 91 with five balls left; three scorching boundaries later he reached his second hundred of the season with 15 fours.

Facing a mammoth 253 to win North Devon had a disastrous first over as Ashworth fell leg before to Jonathan Parsons' second ball and Elliot failed to beat Tom Fogerty's throw from fine leg.

When fellow opener Stanton was also out for a duck, clean bowled by Fogerty, the score was 6-3. However, thanks to stubborn batting from Bob Heaman, who battled for just short of two hours for 49, Ali Kelly who made 12 in an hour, and a breezy 19 not out from Gabriel Desilva late on, North Devon used all their 45 overs, reaching 119 -9 at the close. Maiden overs and wickets were shared between Parsons (9-4-20-2), Fogerty (8-3-12-1), Ryan Dennis (5-2-10-1) and Callum Mallett (9-3-20-1), and David Binns (9-0-40-3).

Belstone got back on the winning trail in the 20-over Buckley Cup when they completed the double over Yeoford last week, winning comfortably by 41 runs.

For Yeoford Cleave Collins (4-0-8-1) began with a miserly spell but Belstone openers Phil Woods (18) and Scott Tremain (25 retired) took 33 runs off the first four overs from the other end to establish a six-an-over run-rate.

Richard Drake (25 retired) and the middle order kept the score ticking over although Matthew Leach chipped in with three wickets for four runs in eight balls towards the end of the innings, which saw Belstone just gaining the maximum five batting points.

Needing 128 to win Yeoford were always behind the asking rate although John Saunders (18), Tom Mistlebrook (26 retired) and Collins (20) all batted solidly. Although they were never in the hunt they blunted the Belstone attack so effectively that only two wickets had fallen by the 17th over, and it was only a late flurry of four more wickets thanks mainly to Rob Sandercock (4-1-14-3), that gifted Belstone two more bowling points.