North Devon

Bratton Fleming

JUST four days after posting their highest ever 20-over score, Belstone managed their lowest score for nine years at Bratton Fleming, beaten by 10 wickets in the league.

Arriving with only nine players wasn’t a good start but, after being put into bat by Bratton skipper Charles Langdon, things looked promising at the end of the first over as James Ewen hooked two short balls for boundaries over square leg. It was downhill from there on as Tom Fogerty went to pull a slow full toss for six, mistimed the shot and lobbed a simple catch, to record his first golden duck.

League debuntant Brandon Horn hit powerfully for a run-a-minute 13 before edging to second slip but there were no other positives for Belstone. Langdon used the slope of the pitch to swing the ball expertly into the batsmen, clean bowling three of them, and by the time he had finished his eight over spell the innings was as good as over, his figures being five for 25. With Oliver Hunt chipping in at the other end with two for 23, the whole innings was over in one hour.

Bratton openers James Tapp (32 not out) and Simon Jennings (16 not out) wasted little time in knocking off the 53 runs required, Belstone’s only chance to gain a point being lost when Tapp was dropped behind the stumps.

Bratton Fleming (20pts) beat Belstone (0pts) by 10 wickets

Buckley Cup

Sticklepath v Belstone

Belstone and Sticklepath have met twice in recent weeks in the T20 Buckley Cup and in both games Sticklepath have been on top for long periods only for Belstone to turn the tables. Belstone were restricted to a modest 101 for nine in their 20 overs with only Jamie Walker playing fluently for 25 not out as Nigel Letheren picked up four wickets for 17 and Jim Mawle conceding just seven runs from his four overs.

In reply Sticklepath were well placed at 48 for one after nine overs but then Oliver Herrington (22) and Ian Jutson (21) were both out. Tom Boother (4-1-22-3) and skipper Richard Drake (4-0-16-4) then skittled through the rest of the batsmen as nine wickets fell for 32 to leave Belstone the winners by 21 runs.

Belstone (14pts) beat Sticklepath (7pts) by 21 runs

Belstone v Sticklepath

In the return match Belstone were well behind the run rate until three overs of big hitting again swung the game their way.

This time Sticklepath batted first with openers Tallan Burns and skipper Julian Baker putting on 50 in good time before Burns retired on 25 and Baker was caught at point by Brandon Horn off Tom Boother for 24.

The run rate then slowed appreciably and wickets fell regularly including a hat-trick for Alex Jopling as he clean bowled Letheren and Barclay and drew Sales forward for a stumping by Matt Dennis.

When the ninth wicket fell Burns returned to the crease for a destructive couple of overs, hitting another 23 runs to finish undefeated on 49 out of a total of 113 for nine. Apart from Matt Dennis (25 retired) the Belstone top order of veterans, Colts and debutants struggled to get the ball away in the face of tidy spells from Will Barclay (4-0-21-2), Jim Mawle (4-0-12-0) and Burns (4-0-22-2) so that after 14 overs the score was only 62 for five.

However, a sudden acceleration from Drake (29 retired), Jopling (15 not out) and Harry Bushin (16 not out) ensured an in-the-end comfortable five wicket win for Belstone with more than three overs to spare.

Belstone (14pts) beat Sticklepath (6pts) by 5 wickets.Buckley CupStickepath v BelstoneBelstone and Sticklepath have met twice in recent weeks in the T20 Buckley Cup and in both games Sticklepath have been on top for long periods only for Belstone to turn the tables. Belstone were restricted to a modest 101 for nine in their 20 overs with only Jamie Walker playing fluently for 25 not out as Nigel Letheren picked up four wickets for 17 and Jim Mawle conceding just seven runs from his four overs. In reply Sticklepath were well placed at 48 for one after nine overs but then Oliver Herrington (22) and Ian Jutson (21) were both out. Tom Boother (4-1-22-3) and skipper Richard Drake (4-0-16-4) then skittled through the rest of the batsmen as nine wickets fell for 32 to leave Belstone the winners by 21 runs.Belstone (14pts) beat Sticklepath (7pts) by 21 runs.Belstone v SticklepathIn the return match Belstone were well behind the run rate until three overs of big hitting again swung the game their way. This time Sticklepath batted first with openers Tallan Burns and skipper Julian Baker putting on 50 in good time before Burns retired on 25 and Baker was caught at point by Brandon Horn off Tom Boother for 24. The run rate then slowed appreciably and wickets fell regularly including a hat-trick for Alex Jopling as he clean bowled Letheren and Barclay and drew Sales forward for a stumping by Matt Dennis. When the ninth wicket fell Burns returned to the crease for a destructive couple of overs, hitting another 23 runs to finish undefeated on 49 out of a total of 113 for nine. Apart from Matt Dennis (25 retired) the Belstone top order of veterans, Colts and debutants struggled to get the ball away in the face of tidy spells from Will Barclay (4-0-21-2), Jim Mawle (4-0-12-0) and Burns (4-0-22-2) so that after 14 overs the score was only 62 for five.However, a sudden acceleration from Drake (29 retired), Jopling (15 not out) and Harry Bushin (16 not out) ensured an in-the-end comfortable five wicket win for Belstone with more than three overs to spare. Belstone (14pts) beat Sticklepath (6pts) by 5 wickets.