Buckley Cup

Belstone v Sticklepath

Belstone got the better of Sticklepath in both their Buckley Cup fixtures, first with a 34 run victory and a second by a more convincing seven wickets.

In the first fixture Belstone batted consistently down the order led by a quick fire 25 retired from Richard Drake and consolidated by 26 retired from Sam Ewen and 29 retired from James Walker — all of which pushed the 20-over score up to a challenging 149-5. Pick of the Sticklepath bowlers was Richard Boarder with 33-3.

In reply opener Billy Searle reached a rapid 27 before retiring but Callum Mallett kept Belstone on top with four wickets for just 18 runs including clean bowling his brother Tom for a single.

W Searle struck two sixes and three fours to reach 30 before also retiring but once the other Sticklepath batsmen were dismissed both Searles came back to the crease with 40 needed from three overs. They both perished to boundary catches off Drake, Billyy Searle caught by Mallett, spectacularly held one-handed by Scott Tremain.

The return fixture raised less excitement as Sticklepath failed to get going, losing wickets steadily to be all out for 72 with eight balls of the innings remaining, only Billy Searle (18) and Tom Mallett (14) reaching double figures. Chief destroyer was Matt Dennis who returned career-best figures of 7-5 from his four overs.

Belstone took their time to knock off the runs with Phil Woods batting through 17.5 overs for 17 not out. James Walker (18) upped the tempo, but it was extras (20) who top-scored.