Lustleigh v Belstone

BELSTONE'S first visit to Lustleigh since 200, when they suffered a crushing 195-run defeat in a semi-final South Devon League Cup game, saw a much closer and exciting match.

Lustleigh's Peter Bartlett and Mike Wright started carefully in the face of accurate bowling from Harry Bushin and Ryan Dennis, adding 38 for the first wicket before Bartlett was caught in the deep by a diving Phil Woods for 19 from the first ball of Dan Fogerty's spell.

Useful partnerships followed for the next four wickets as the scoring rate picked up, with good contributions from John Wright, Steve Wright, Andrew Lockwood and especially opener Mike Wright who was fourth out for 69 with the score on 146, having hit eight fours and three sixes.

Belstone defended the short boundaries well, holding four superb running catches in the deep and the innings ended on 197-6 after 40 overs, shortly after the spectacular run out of Mike Sessions by a direct hit from cover fielder Richard Drake.

In reply Belstone were soon ahead of the required rate with Drake and Woods putting on 39 before Drake was caught off a skier by keeper Steve Wright for 23.

Woods then dominated in a stand of 46 for the third wicket with Chris Walpole and continued in the same vein until he was fourth out for 73 with the score on 124, having hit nine fours and three sixes into the River Wrey. He was the second victim of leg-spinner Richard Barr, who conceded 32 runs from his first three overs but also picked up a wicket in six of his last seven overs to finish with figures of six for 50.

Scott Tremain kept the visitors in the hunt with a powerfully struck 27 but he became Barr's final scalp, leaving 28 to get in eight overs with two wickets remaining.

Skipper Bushin took charge, but immediately after striking the 16th six of the game he was bowled by John Wright for 15 to give Lustleigh an 11-run win.