(Buckley Cup)

BELSTONE'S first game in the 20-over evening Buckley Cup against Spreyton was a low-scoring topsy-turvy encounter on a pitch made awkward by recent rain.

Put in to bat, Belstone began briskly with Phil Woods (17) and Scott Tremain (12) adding 23 in the first four overs before a mid-order collapse reduced them to 46-5 at the half-way stage.

Matt Dennis (12) and Tom Fogerty (20) put on 32 for the sixth wicket before another collapse saw the innings end on 97 for nine, with the wickets shared between five of the bowlers.

Spreyton looked to be making light of the pursuit as Greg (18) and John Wright put on 49 for the second wicket by the seventh over with three sixes between them. Suddenly they lost three wickets for no runs and with Wright having to retire on 25 not out, the innings collapsed spectacularly with Callum Mallet (4-1-20-3) proving difficult to handle.

With the fall of the ninth wicket on 65 Wright came back in and immediately hit his third six but when Bentley was bowled at the other end the game was all over, Spreyton having lost their last nine wickets for just 24 runs, to hand Belstone an unlikely 23-run victory in the gloom.