Belstone v Sandford

BELSTONE remain rooted to the bottom of the league after suffering their third successive defeat last Sunday, losing to visitors Sandford by 88 runs after another poor batting display.

Home skipper Matt Dennis’s decision to ask Sandford to bat after winning the toss brought an immediate result as Ryan Dennis removed Ryan Glass for a golden duck at the start of the second over. With Sandford looking to attack at all times there were plenty of aerial strokes to keep the fielders on their toes — Ryan Dennis pocketed three catches in the covers, Harry Bushin took a superbly judged skier to remove Ben Clement to give 14-year old Arden Frew-Smith his first league wicket, and Jimmy Ewen took another steepling catch to remove the overseas player Ranesh Lakmal for 37, which included six boundaries and a six.

At the end of this helter-skelter action Sandford were reduced to 108 for seven in the 25th over but Belstone were unable to press home their advantage as Josh Misselbrook and Richard Foan played well to ensure the tail wagged. Misselbrook hit five fours and a six in his 41 and Foan finished unbeaten on 24 not out as they boosted the visitors total to 184 all out with six overs going unused.

Lakmal and Foan took the new ball for Belstone’s reply and at once caused problems with their accuracy and movement, trapping three batsmen leg before and clean bowling three others.

By the end of their opening spell the innings was in complete disarray with seven batsmen back in the pavilion and only 26 runs on the board, Lakmal taking 5-11 and Foan 2-14. First change Tom Williams (8-2-14-2) was just as economical but Belstone’s Dan Fogerty found the other change bowler Misselbrook more to his liking, suddenly plundering a succession of boundaries. Partnered by his father Mark Fogerty they doubled the score from 19-7 at the lowest point to 40 before Fogerty senior was caught behind by Glass for six.

Youngster Frew-Smith then batted well for half an hour while Dan Fogerty carried on his attack at the other end — the score more than doubling again with the ninth wicket putting on 51 (one run short of equalling the highest ever Belstone ninth wicket partnership) before Frew-Smith was tempted into an attacking stroke by a full toss and succeeded only in guiding a catch to point.

Fogerty pushed a few singles to pass his half century and gain Belstone a couple of points before the return of Lakmal (5.2-0-11-6) took just two balls to finish off the innings on 96 all out with last man Bushin becoming the fifth duck.