North Devon one

Bideford v Belstone

BELSTONE’S latest game in division one of the North Devon League against Bideford finally got underway at Westward Ho! as a 27-over affair after a 90 minute rain delay.

After winning the toss Bideford opener Rob North set off at a good pace with some stylish strokes over the fast outfield before he mistimed a drive off Harry Bushin (8-1-47-2) and was well caught over his shoulder by Sam Ewen, running back at mid on, for 19 when the score was 25 in the fourth over.

The other Belstone opening bowler Dan Fogerty (6-2-28-0) induced several edges through the slips without success but it was smart work by keeper Jack Hatton which claimed the next wicket as, standing up to Bushin, he whipped off the bails to stump John Weeks.

Opener Oliver Hannam was then joined by his brother Alex and they built a solid partnership of 63 for the third wicket before the spin of Alex Jopling got through Oliver’s defences to bowl him for 38, which included six boundaries. Shortly after Jopling also accounted for Alex, out for a run-a-ball 41 as he ran down the pitch and presented Hatton with a simple stumping.

Ji Eccles immediately hit a four and six but just as Bideford threatened to accelerate he was run out for 17 by a superb throw from deep midwicket by Mark Whiteside. Nazir Khan, just back for a six-week season with Bridestowe and Belstone, kept things quiet at the death so that only six runs came from the final three overs, leaving the home side on 136-6 at tea.

Belstone skipper Richard Drake, looking to seize the initiative with a positive start, promoted himself to open with Phil Woods and they were soon ahead of the asking rate with an opening stand of 49 in eight overs.

Woods continued his recent good form with some classic drives through the covers, so it was a surprise when he was bowled by Alex Hannam (5-0-28-1) for 23. Drake rode his luck with a range of attacking strokes before being adjudged leg before for 34 to the spin of Cameron Atkinson (7-0-27-2).

With Mark Whiteside out soon afterwards Bideford were back in the game although Belstone were still favourites, only needing 56 from 13 overs with six wickets in hand.

Hatton (11 not out) calmed any visitors’ nerves by pushing singles to the deep-set field while at the other end Ewen played more aggressively, taking Belstone to the brink of victory before he was run out for 38 by an Eccles direct hit.

It was left to Khan to elegantly flick a ball off his legs to the fine leg boundary to give Belstone their third win in division one this year, by five wickets with 17 balls to spare.