North Devon League one

BELSTONE dropped to the foot of the division one table after a desperately close finish against fellow-strugglers Bideford, which saw them fall just six runs short of the 227-run target.

Belstone began poorly with the first five balls all being called leg-side wides but after that their bowlers found decent lines — although they could not stop a fine opening partnership developing between Josh Roach and Tom Brend.

Roach, straight from scoring 161 the day before, was in commanding form, effortlessly stroking the ball all round the field to such an extent that he made 66 out of the first wicket stand of 82, which ended when first change Tom Fogerty clean bowled Brend for nine.

Roach continued on untroubled, reaching a chanceless century after 115 minutes, so it was a surprise when he holed out to Harry Bushin at long on off Andy King for 110 when the score was 148, having hit 12 boundaries and five sixes.

The run rate slowed with the introduction of spinner Alex Jopling whose first over was a double wicket maiden. He bowled through the rest of the innings, taking two more wickets including Rob Hill out for 13 to a full stretch diving slip catch by King to end with four for 29 from seven testing overs. Josh Atkinson smashed three sixes and four fours in a late assault until he was out in the penultimate over for a run-a-minute 43 shortly before the innings ended on a respectable 40-over total of 226-7.

The Belstone reply followed a similar pattern with a best-of-season opening partnership of 60 between Phil Woods and Tom Fogerty which ended when Woods edged Fred King to keeper Marten Stanbury to depart for 18. Two more quick wickets saw a half-way score of 90-3 against Bideford’s earlier equivalent of 104 for one but then Fogerty stepped up the pace to reach his half century in 68 minutes. He was joined by Ryan Dennis and they set about the bowling of Brend, who conceded 41 from his three overs, adding 96 for the fourth wicket to put the home team up with the run rate.

Then Roach, who had already bowled a miserly spell of eight overs for just 15 runs, continued his man-of-the-match all round display with a good catch at midwicket to send back Dennis for 39 off David Staddon. Worse was to follow as Fogerty fell two overs later, caught by King on the deep mid wicket boundary as he tried to hit the six that would have brought up his century, thus gaining the unlucky distinction of being the first Belstone player in 22 years to be dismissed for 99.

Belstone were still on course, needing 46 with five wickets in hand and six overs to go. but then an element of panic set in with two run outs and some steady bowling by Staddon in particular.

Nevertheless, the final over began with the match still in the balance with Belstone needing 12 for victory, but Staddon (7-0-30-4) held his nerve to only concede five runs, leaving Bideford the winners of a very entertaining and hard-fought game.