Belstone v Lustleigh BELSTONE's first cricket match of the 2014 season against visitors Lustleigh was a slow-burning affair that gradually ratcheted up the tension, climaxing with Belstone needing eight off the final over with just two wickets left. Earlier they had got off to a good start as both Lustleigh openers departed for ducks with Harry Bushin bowling eight tidy overs for just 12 runs and Matt Dennis even more economical taking one for nine from eight overs. A partnership of 40 for the third wicket between Duncan Manners-Chapman (20) and Thikke (12) began the visitors' recovery and this was continued by Steve Wright who dominated the middle order making a stylish 47. The innings finished with Sessions making a breezy 22 not out but none of the batsmen could really get on top of the bowling so that the final 40-over total was a modest 147 for seven. For the first 15 overs of the Belstone reply they were comfortably ahead of the asking rate as Scott Tremain (36) and Tom Pearce added 52 for the second wicket before Pearce was leg before for 25 with the score on 62. From then on the boundaries dried up as Broomfield (7-2-16-1) and Sessions (8-2-23-1) bowled a tidy line; middle order wickets fell regularly (including skipper Richard Drake (14) who warmed up for his innings by smashing the changing room window during the knock-up) so that by the time five overs were left Belstone had struggled to 117 for seven, with the required rate up to six an over. Matt and Ryan Dennis kept calm, pushing singles while waiting for the bad ball which finally arrived as the last over began; Matt hit the first ball over the longest boundary for six, then was promptly out leg before for 17, but then Bushin hit his first ball for four to secure a Belstone win by two wickets with three balls remaining.