North Devon One

Hatherleigh v Belstone

HATHERLEIGH hosted Belstone on another beautiful summer’s day — with the hosts seeing a first ever double century by one of their players.

Reigning champions Hatherleigh won the toss and elected to bat. The wicket was fast and true and Hatherleigh’s openers attacked from the start with Niall Leahy (31 from 22 balls) and Ryan Davies put on 63 for the first wicket.

After Leahy’s dismissal, Dudu Zondo joined Davies and they put on 155 for the second wicket. Even after Harry Bushin broke this partnership, the onslaught continued with Mark Lake striking a quick 34.

All this time Davies was accumulating runs, scoring his maiden century off 78 balls and then topping that by getting to a magnificent double century.

He finished on 200 not out off 128 balls with 23 fours and nine sixes. Ryan Dennis finished with two wickets albeit for 75 runs with Alex Jopling being the most economical with 57 off his eight overs.

In reply Belstone lost James Ewen with the score on 20. Brothers Matt Dennis (66) and Ryan Dennis (58) got the scoreboard moving with some fine shots. Ryan fell with the score at 141 and Matt saw three wickets go down cheaply before he was 6th out at 176 for 6.

After that only Phil Woods with 24 not out really troubled the scorers and Belstone finished on 227-9 which any other day would have represented a good score.

Leg spinners Adam Quick and Gareth Tidball took three for 27 and two for 40 respectively and there were two run outs from a very athletic fielding side.

Davies’s double century was the first ever recorded by a Hatherleigh player in any form of the game. After the match Davies said: ‘I just kept on going on a great wicket.’

It was certainly a fine achievement for the recently married wicket-keeper.

Hatherleigh won the match by 149 runs and stay top of Division One.