North Devon division one

Newton Tracey v Belstone

BELSTONE began with a maiden over from Ryan Dennis but after that he was punished uncharacteristically as Newton's opening pair of Simon Gear and Phillip Butcher played with great confidence in a stand of 85 in 14 overs.

This was broken in first-change bowler Nazir Khan's first over when Gear was dismissed for 32, well held by Alex Jopling on the mid wicket boundary. This was the first of several excellent catches in the deep by both teams.

Martin Gear (21) joined Butcher to add 51 for the second wicket before Tom Boother hurried one through to take the top off his off-stump. Butcher reached his half-century in an hour and went on to hit 14 boundaries and a six before departing for an elegant 85, caught by Jack Hatton in the deep off Khan, who returned easily the most economical figures for Belstone of two for 26 off eight overs.

Newton's progress was checked briefly in mid innings as they went from 165-3 to 199-6 but then Robert Gear (five fours and two sixes in his 41) and skipper Richard Screech (three fours and a six in 19) piled on the runs again towards the end so that their final 40-over total was a challenging 267 all out. Belstone's cause was not helped by conceding 40 extras.

The reply began brightly with 27 coming from the first 21 balls before Tom Fogerty was caught off a skier for 16. Soon after Hatton was needlessly run out for 11 but then a partnership of 73 in 48 minutes between Khan and Sam Ewen took the score to 108 before another self-inflicted wicket fell, with Khan also being run out for 36, trying for a risky second run.

Captain Richard Drake bottom edged a wide ball from Martin Gear into keeper Butcher's hands to depart without scoring, and Ewen (38) being another to hole out in the deep; suddenly three wickets had fallen on the same score. Gears Martin (8-1-33-2) and Robert (8-1-36-3) tightened Newton's grip at this point so when Belstone reached 130 for seven, needing another 137 to win in 12 overs, there looked to be only one winner. Enter Matt Dennis and Jopling who combined in a ferocious onslaught which saw six fours and three sixes in a lightning partnership of 70 in just 21 minutes and six overs. The 200 came up with all the Newton fielders retreating to the boundary. Jopling was then 'caught' by Simon Gear who was just over the boundary, but two balls later he perished trying the same stroke to the same fielder and was out for 26. Dennis motored on to reach his half century in 41 minutes but although he added another 34 for the last wicket with Chris Walpole (10 not out), to finish with his highest score for the club of 66 not out, they could not keep up the 13-runs-an-over required – so Newton Tracey survived the counter attack to emerge winners of a highly entertaining game by 31 runs.

Buckley Cup

Belstone v Tedburn St Mary

FORTUNES fluctuated wildly during Belstone's 20-over Buckley Cup home match against Tedburn St Mary.

The visitors struggled to 11 for two off the first five overs as Ryan Dennis (4-0-13-2) and Harry Bushin (3-1-15-1) accounted for the openers.

Tedburn's Ash Baker and Russel Crang both reached 25 before retiring and they really accelerated with Greg Lewis (25 retired), Paul Sandys (16 not out) and Henry Powell (21) —hitting three sixes and three fours between them in a five over burst that saw 65 runs added. Belstone's Dave Smallacombe suffered the most, conceding 26 runs in one over. All this pushed the score up to 138 for four at the close.

Belstone started brightly with ten from the first over and were up with the asking rate on 65 for three at the half way stage, thanks to Matt Dennis (23), Ryan Dennis (22) and Drake, who retired on 25. It was still anybody's game with three overs left, four wickets in hand, and 26 required but a couple of wickets and only ten runs taken from the next two meant Belstone needed 16 off the last over, to be bowled by Sandys.

Andrew Hooper hit the first ball to the boundary but was out off the fourth for 14; this brought Drake back to the crease but he was unable to hit the last two balls for six giving Tedburn their first Buckley win of the season.