Belstone Cricket Club XI

v President’s XI

BELSTONE reassembled for a rearranged T20 season finale against a select XI gathered by club president Peter Hammond.

After opener Jack Barkwell departed to a third ball duck, clean bowled by Ollie Herrington, Belstone recovered thanks to some classy cover drives from Callum Mallett, who retired on 28, and powerful pulls from Ryan Dennis who retired on 25. Useful contributions also came from Chris Walpole with 21, his highest score of the season, and Mark Whiteside (16), while the innings ended with a flourish on 149 for eight thanks to Dan Fogerty (two sixes in 19) and Phil Woods (10 not out off four balls).

The dismissal of skipper Matt Dennis for 10 caused some interest as he was mistakenly given out stumped off a free hit.

Sam England was the most successful bowler, picking up three wickets in eight balls during his four over spell.

Phil Woods bowled his first and only over of the season for Belstone and claimed a wicket with his fifth ball when opener Herrington lobbed a catch to Roy Page at midwicket. A classic dismissal followed when the other opener Tony England edged a good length ball from Whiteside to Fogerty at third slip.

Matt Dennis bowled his only over at his father Phil and send him back to the pavilion for just a couple of runs. Jim Mawle steadied the innings before Mallett bowled him for 12 and Paul Scott top scored with 23 but the President’s XI were never up with the required run rate so the entertaining game meandered to a convincing 49 run win for the club.

It was their fourth victory in a row in the series which takes the overall 25-year history of the fixture to 13-8 in favour of the club.