Belstone v North Devon thirds

Belstone got their North Devon League campaign off to a flying start with a convincing nine wicket win in division four over a young North Devon third side at Rew Meadow.

Put in to bat by skipper Harry Bushin, North Devon openers Richard Clarke and Tom Stanton played cautiously against the accurate attack of Jonathan Parsons (9-1-17-0) and Bushin (9-2-11-1), taking 15 overs to put on 24 runs before Clarke was trapped leg before.

Stanton top scored with 26 in 92 minutes before he became one of Tom Fogerty's scalps (9-1-25-2, but the real problems for North Devon came with the introduction into the attack of Rob Clarke. Taking wickets with both of his first two balls for the club he picked up another four to finish with the best-ever bowling figures for a Belstone debutant, 6-28 from 8.4 overs, with two maidens, all of which left the visitors with a meagre total of 118 all out.

Belstone needed just under 17 overs to knock off these runs, thanks to a opening partnership between Richard Drake, who scored a run-a-minute 45 and Phil Woods, who hit three sixes and five fours in his 52 not out.

Buckley Cup

Belstone v Spreyton

Belstone's games against Spreyton are usually close-run affairs and this year's cup encounter was no exception. Belstone were on top after 11 overs having reduced Spreyton to 34-4 with Jonathan Parsons (4-2-2-1) the pick of the opening bowlers. The score more than doubled to 77 in the next four overs as John Wright and Chapman smashed three sixes and three fours before both retired on 25. The innings then quietened down again to leave Spreyton on 94 for seven after their 20 overs.

More sixes came from Phil Woods and Scott Tremain as Belstone's reply raced to 42 in the sixth over before Woods (16) became the first victim of a fine spell from Wright (4-1-9-3). When Tremain retired on 25 the innings lost momentum and wickets began to fall such that at 74 -5 with six overs remaining but Harry Bushin (16) and Ryan Dennis (16) steadied the ship as Belstone edged home by three wickets with five balls to spare.

North Devon four

Petrockstowe v Belstone

A cracking game of cricket at Petrockstowe saw Belstone make it two wins out of two in the North Devon League thanks largely to Scott Tremain's first century for the club.

Belstone won the toss and put the opposition in. B Harris hit a quick-fire 36 out of 46 before he was third out, well caught and bowled by Tom Fogerty during his spell of 2-21 from nine. L Cockwill and Toop played cautiously, putting on 71 in an hour for the fifth wicket before Toop was out for 14. Cockwill accelerated, passing 50 with his ninth boundary in 78 minutes and finishing on an unbeaten 74. He received good support from L Harris (26) so that the last five overs yielded 51 runs to leave the home side on a useful total of 197 for nine after their 45 overs.

Belstone's reply owed everything to Scott Tremain who commanded proceedings from the start until he was eighth out with just 16 needed. He took to the short pitched bowling from I Cockwill, pulling the ball sweetly for sixes and fours over midwicket, with 22 coming off the third over - racing to a half-century in only 38 minutes. Tremain's dominance can be seen from the partnerships he had; 39 for the second wicket with Richard Drake (5); 18 for the third with Trevor Oats (1); 36 for the fourth with Chris Walpole (7); and 39 for the fifth with Ryan Dennis (7).

Just after Dennis was out Tremain reached his 95 minute century, eventually being stumped for 112 which included five sixes and 11 fours. Tom Fogerty (23 not out) and Jonathan Parsons (5 not out) carried the visitors to an exciting two wicket win.