Friendly

BELSTONE Cricket Club began the new season with their first-ever visit to Chulmleigh for a friendly which saw most of the batsmen getting useful runs.

Eddie Jones began proceedings for the visitors by cracking the first ball to the cover boundary as 11 came off the opening over.

Things quietened down after that as Davies (11-2-27-3) and Dan Parcell (8-1-19-1) bowled a tidy line on a pitch of variable bounce; nevertheless openers Jones (23) and Phil Woods (32) put on 55 in 15 overs before they were both well caught by Clark off the spin of Jacobs (5-0-14-2).

Matt Dennis (21) and Richard Drake (19) picked up the pace with Drake scoring a first for Belstone with consecutive switch hits for six and four, but they were both out to Davies just as they threatened to cut loose. Jamie Walker also played well with two sixes and four fours in his 30 before Clark clean bowled the last three batsmen to give an all out total at tea of 181.

Chulmleigh’s reply never really got going as they struggled to 30-4 with Matt Dennis showing lightning reactions at short leg to take the stand out catch of the match and Ryan Dennis proving a handful with three for ten from seven overs.

Hanman survived two dropped catches to top score with 38 before Belstone debutant Ed Stewart dismissed him by taking a smart return catch. After that Callum Mallett (10.3-3-31-3) dropped onto a nagging length to wheedle out the last three men to give Belstone an 82 run victory.