North Devon division three

Belstone v Sandford

BELSTONE final game of the season turned out to be the closest of their 27-match summer.

With both teams finishing just outside the promotion spots the low-scoring game came to a climax with a Belstone last wicket stand inching towards victory. Earlier Sandford were indebted to their skipper Luke Wright who came in at 17 for two in the fifth over and held the innings together right through until he was eighth out 28 overs later for 59, which included three 6s and three 4s. He was supported by Brian Leach in a sixth wicket partnership of 47 before Richard Drake (9-0-44-3) took a stinging caught and bowled to dismiss Leach for 25.

Opening bowler Phil Dennis conceded just ten runs from his nine overs, while his son Matt returned the best figures, 3-17 from four overs.

Needing only a modest 140 to win from 45 overs Belstone were going well at 74 for two at the half way stage but then Wright took two wickets in an over including that of Drake, caught behind for 28. Simon Ashplant chipped in with three wickets but it was the superb one-handed catch at full stretch by Leach at square leg to dismiss Ryan Dennis for 16 off Ash Baker that was the most important. By then Belstone were 114 for eight with, as they were one man short, last men Simon Tremain and Callum Mallett at the crease. The 26 runs needed for victory looked a long way off especially as Mallett took 20 minutes to get off the mark, but over the next six overs they crept ever closer until the target was down to eleven off the last twelve balls.

Helped by a few more wides (27 conceded in all) the penultimate over brought five more runs. Mallett then pushed the first ball of the last over to mid on but just failed to beat the direct-hit throw which left Tremain on 19 not out and Sandford the winners of an excellent game by five runs.

North Devon division three

P W L Pts Av

Shobrooke Park 13 7 1 150 18.75

Holsworthy 14 6 3 145 16.11

Belstone 14 5 3 114 14.25

Sandford 14 7 4 154 14.00

North Devon 12 3 6 112 10.22

Bideford 14 5 6 112 10.18

Bratton Fleming 14 3 5 77 9.63

Newton Tracey 13 0 8 28 3.50