North Devon division four

Newton Tracey

EVERYONE came away happy from Belstone's final league cricket game of the season at home to Newton Tracey – Belstone for winning a hard fought low-scoring war of attrition by 23 runs and Newton Tracey for securing six points, enough to see them promoted to division three next season.

Put into bat, Belstone's opener Scott Tremain (23) played some sweetly timed on-drives during his hour-long stay at the crease but at the other end wickets fell steadily although Peter Harlow did bat in typically obdurate style, taking 41 minutes to get off the mark. Although he only made three runs the score did advance while he was in from 19-3 to 54-6, with John Brewer conceding just 10 runs from his nine overs and Tim Prior only 26 from his nine, both picking up two wickets. Trevor Oats (11) and Harry Bushin (11) edged the slow-moving total upwards but it was the 24-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Andy King (26) and Simon Tremain (7) and the 20-run ninth wicket stand between King and Thomas Boother (8 not out) that finally pushed the score into three figures before Andy Chatham (4-1-9-3) polished off the innings at 107 all out from 44 overs.

Belstone had to make some early breakthroughs and Bushin did just that with an inspired opening spell that brought him a wicket in each of his first three overs including a cart-wheeling leg stump and a classic edge to keeper Simon Tremain.

Added to this came a bonus wicket as a throw from King ran out skipper John Turner after he had battled to three in 45 minutes, leaving Newton Tracey struggling on nine for four in the 11th over. Chatham (12) and Mark Cowling (10) kept Hedley Toogood (29) company while 47 runs were added but just when Toogood had hit the only six of the game and was threatening to turn the match the visitors way, he thrashed a full pitch from left-armer King straight to the safe hands of David Binns at midwicket, making the score 72 for eight.

That was virtually the end of Newton Tracey resistance as King finished with four for 21 from nine overs and skipper Scott Tremain ended the game with his second ball to complete an impressive performance in the field by the home team.

n This Sunday sees an 11am start for the annual game against the Belstone Presidents XI. Meanwhile, the winner of the Buckley Cup remains uncertain after Belstone's crunch game against North Tawton last Wednesday was washed out by the weather – it has been re-arranged for 10am on Sunday, September 12.