Buckley Cup

IN the most bizarre and topsy-turvy game of the season Sticklepath recovered from a seemingly impossible position at Rew Meadow to snatch a dramatic one-wicket win in the evening gloom.

In doing so they recorded their first win of the season and their first victory over local rivals Belstone for seven years.

The visitors started well as Richard Tripp held a fine low catch at point to dismiss Ed Stewart for a golden duck and Jamie Walker (6) self-destructed as he guided a ball straight to Neil Rowlands. Both these wickets came in an effective 12 ball spell from Ollie Herrington (4-0-26-3) which ended with Belstone on 17-3.

Ryan Dennis, returning from injury, was soon back in his stride with some well-timed drives as Belstone began to recover. Skipper Richard Drake (16) pushed the ball around carefully for ones and twos but was out to the first ambitious shot he attempted, edging a reverse sweep to keeper Ian Jutson off Rowlands. Rowlands picked up two more late wickets to finish with figures of three for five from just two overs. Dennis was last man out, mis-timing a pull to midwicket for 29, as the innings ended on a modest 94 with two balls of the 20 overs remaining.

The first two overs of the remarkable Sticklepath reply bear close scrutiny. Mark Whiteside’s first ball rose off a good length, found the edge of Julian Baker’s bat and lobbed to Dan Fogerty at third slip. His second ball was a beauty going straight through Herrington’s defences to shatter the stumps. The hat-trick ball drifted harmlessly down leg-side, but the next ball cleaned up Tripp for another duck. The over ended with no runs scored and three wickets down.

Callum Mallett unusually sent down three wides in the next over but also clean bowled Rowlands for a duck. Even worse followed as youngster Elliot Hannant was needlessly run out off the last ball for, another duck. Four runs scored at the end of the two overs and five wickets lost.

Belstone prepared to celebrate especially after Tom Mallett (9) and Liam Sampson (14) were out to leave the score on 39-7 in the eighth over. All this time opener Jutson had been watching the carnage from the far end; now he began to push the score along with some well-placed strokes but it was the entrance of Nigel Letheren at number 9 that turned the game on its head. His attacking innings began with a six and together they added 30 runs before Jutson, under the rules of the T20 Buckley Cup, had to retire having reached 25.

Number ten Murray Hannant was quickly out but last man Kevin Sales contributed five to a valuable stand of 21 with Letheren as Belstone gradually began to realise that nothing can be taken for granted. By the time Sales was out to Mallett (4-0-21-3) and Jutson was able to return, only six runs were needed by Sticklepath and one wicket for Belstone. With rain falling and car headlights illuminating the scene the Sticklepath pair calmly pushed a few singles to bring up a famous victory, Jutson ending on 33 not out and Letheren on 27 not out.