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Belstone v Verwood

BELSTONE started the new season with a lack-lustre performance against Dorset tourists Verwood with room for improvement obvious in all departments of batting, bowling and fielding.

The first ball of the match was a wide but at the half way stage of the 40-over innings Belstone were doing well enough with four Verwood wickets down and only 72 runs on the board. Opener Scott McLeonards contributed 32 of these and Dan Fogerty (4-0-9-2) was the pick of the attack.

Middle order batsmen Luke Hancock and Ollie Arnold then took charge and, helped by some sloppy fielding, added 73 for the fifth wicket in 13 overs before Hancock skied a catch to Gary Sizmur.

Four more wickets fell quickly towards the end as Verwood upped the rate before they finished on 188 for nine with Arnold just reaching his half century.

Belstone's reply got off to the worst possible start when Jerry Millward clean bowled James Ewen first ball, and he continued with a useful eight over spell, picking up the next two wickets as well.

Most of the Belstone batsmen made a start but none built a decent score, with opener Sizmur top scoring with 20, Chris Walpole (12) hanging around for 47 minutes and Fogerty (15 not out) hitting out at the end.

The last seven wickets fell for only 50 runs as Verwood wrapped up a 92 run victory with 16 overs to spare.