Belstone v Old Suttonians

PLYMOUTH based Old Suttonians faced a young Belstone side all but one of whom were under 20 years-old and, after a close-fought game, experience triumphed over youthful exuberance by just 10 runs.

Old Sutts started solidly reaching a 100 with only Andy Taylor (15) back in the pavilion but then four wickets fell cheaply including the run outs of Adam King for 31 and opener Gavin Jones - fifth out for a patient two-hour 38 when the score had reached 131.

Old Sutts then picked up the scoring rate with good contributions from Adrian Laughton (22) and McElemy (20) to reach a final 40-over score of 202-8.

Belstone skipper Tom Fogerty gave nine of his team a bowl (which did result in a glut of wides, and extras ending as top score with 43), the most successful of which was Sam Cooper (8-2-34-3).

Belstone started equally well with Chris Walpole (30) and Tallan Burns (57) adding 86 for the first wicket at the required five-an-over rate. Pat Ewen (23) and Dan Fogerty (21) batted elegantly in the middle order to keep the home team in contention and with Tom Mallett then striking the ball fiercely in all directions, at 190-6 with overs to spare a Belstone win looked odds-on.

Returning opening bowler Ken Curry (7-2-23-2) then made the crucial breakthrough having Mallet caught by keeper McElemy off a miscued skier for 42, at which point the last few wickets fell for just a couple more runs.