North Devon two

Belstone v Holsworthy

A VERITABLE run-feast at Rew Meadow saw 511 runs scored for the loss of only seven wickets as Holsworthy paid their first-ever visit to Belstone.

There was no hint of the excitement to come as the visitors won the toss and began cautiously with just eight runs coming from the first six overs with this including what proved to be a very costly error as opener Warren Rumble was dropped in the slips. Rumble and fellow opener Jack Greening gradually took complete charge with a remarkable partnership of 238 runs in 41 overs - almost certainly the highest ever made at the ground. Rumble was the dominant partner, reaching his fifty in 87 minutes and his hundred after 124 minutes; in all he batted for almost three hours, survived another three chances, and hit 16 boundaries and 6 sixes before finally being caught on the deep midwicket boundary for 144.

Meanwhile Greening had been the first out for a chanceless 75, which included eight fours and a six. After 41 overs without a wicket Belstone took two in four balls as Callum Mallett struck, but overall it was a hard slog in the field for the home team.

Faced with a target of 273 for victory a solid start was essential and this was achieved with a stand of 44 between Scott Tremain and Phil Woods (16), but already Belstone were behind the initial six-an-over asking rate.

A second wicket stand of 118 in 22 overs between Tremain and Tom Pearce guaranteed Belstone some points whatever the result, but by the time Pearce was out for 47 less than eight overs remained and still 111 runs were needed.

Captain Richard Drake then played like a man possessed, beginning with a six over extra cover. With ten or more coming from the next five overs all of a sudden the impetus swung towards Belstone, even though a victory was hardly possible. Six Holsworthy players retreated to the boundary as Drake and Tremain continued their onslaught before, inevitably, they ran out of overs with Drake caught off the last ball for 49 made in just 30 hectic minutes, leaving Tremain undefeated three runs short of a century. Belstone's final score of 239 for three was their highest-ever losing total and brought to an end a splendid game of cricket.