North Devon Division 2

Lynton & Lynmouth v Belstone

BOTTOM of the table Lynton & Lynmouth arrived at Belstone for their North Devon League Division Two match having lost all five of their fixtures so far.

Belstone were thus favourites to consolidate their mid-table position and eventually they did indeed secure a four wicket win after making rather heavy weather of a modest run chase. Belstone opening bowler Dan Fogerty worked up a good pace down the hill and was unlucky that several edges did not go to hand. Nevertheless he and the other opener Harry Bushin reduced the visitors to 34 for three after eight overs.

David Proctor led a counter-attack with six boundaries in a rapid 32 before he was bowled by Callum Mallett who also broke the developing fifth wicket partnership of 47 between Nick Bowen (30) and Jeremy Bingham (24) to finish with excellent figures of four for 37 from nine overs. Lynton's last four wickets fell cheaply for just 13 runs to leave them all out for 133 with twelve of the possible 45 overs unused.

Belstone's reply raced ahead of the asking rate as Richard Drake hit four boundaries off seven balls faced before he was out for 16 with the score on 40 after only five overs.

Things steadied down after that with Phil Woods (25) batting carefully until he edged a wide one to the keeper. Nick Constable (9-1-34-2) found some good away swing to keep one end tight but Eddie Jones, playing his first match for Belstone since 2004, found his touch immediately with a stylish 24.

Even so, at 109 for six there were a few nerves in the Belstone camp before Jamie Walker (26 not out) and Simon Tremain saw them to victory with 21 overs to spare.