SPREYTON maintained their challenge with Hatherleigh at the top of the Buckley Cup table after completing the double over Belstone.

After an early wicket Belstone raced away at eight an over to reach the halfway stage of the innings on 82 for one thanks to some powerful strokes from Matt Dennis and Pete Randerson who both retired on 26.

Tom Pearce and Jamie Walker continued the bright start but once they were out the innings lost momentum.

Opening bowler Jake Griffiths returned to bowl the final over; his first ball uprooted the middle stump of last man Phil Dennis and two balls later returning No 3 Randerson was caught behind off a mis-timed Dilscoop without adding to his score, leaving the visitors on 131 all out.

Spreyton's reply followed a similar pattern, the difference being that although they lost wickets regularly they always kept up with the required run rate.

Opening bowler Phil Dennis took a wicket with his first ball and two more in his second over, including a sharp catch taken by Walker, who was keeping wicket for the first time in 20 years.

At the other end John Wright and Ramsden were both dropped as they struck a combined seven boundaries and two sixes before retiring on 25 and 26 respectively.

Having taken two straightforward catches at mid on early in the innings, Pearce then took two more spectacular diving one-handed catches off his own bowling to complete a three-over spell of three for 13 which reduced Spreyton to 87 for six.

Luke Hedley-Dent and Rahoul Brijnah then put on 33 runs in five overs, effectively punishing bad balls and pushing singles into the gaps. Although they were both out in quick succession this only meant that John Wright could return to the crease with just seven runs needed from 15 balls; a six and a four finished the game in the next three balls as he ended on 35 not out to give Spreyton a two-wicket victory with two overs to spare.