BELSTONE?S Sizmur and Phil Woods scored at more than eight an over before they both retired on 28 with the score on 70 for two in the match against Tedburn. Spectators were then treated to several overs of farce as Steve Baker took full advantage of the unusual east-west orientation of the Tedburn wicket to toss up some slow lobs which came straight out of the low sun. Chris Walpole was blinded and bowled with Baker?s first ball and Simon Tremain played out a maiden over with a series of air shots. Andrew Paterson then suffered a career first by being run out without facing a ball before Rob Hall got the innings back on course by hitting two sixes over the pavilion on his way to 25 ? he retired as Belstone finished on 137 for six. Neil Branton kept one end of the Tedburn reply secure before he retired on 26 but wickets fell steadily at the other end until the lower order, led by Dave Rich with a rapid 22, threatened to get close to Belstone?s total. Paterson snuffed out that possibility with three quick wickets at the close to give the visitors a victory by 32 runs.

South Devon League division two Belstone v Raleigh l Last Sunday, for the second week running, Belstone took to the field knowing they had to win to avoid relegation in the South Devon League. This time, in the final league match of the season, their opponents at Rew Meadow were Raleigh, who themselves had a chance of promotion if they could win with maximum points ? and it was against Raleigh that Belstone had thrown the game away two weeks ago. Belstone got off to a good start with four byes off the first ball of the game and 13 off the complete first over from Andrew Buzza. Openers Phil Woods and Andrew Paterson continued to play well for the next 16 overs, putting on 74 in 55 minutes for the first wicket before Woods was out for 42, soon followed by Paterson for 25, both bowled by Buzza (9-0-36-3). Belstone consolidated this positive start with a fourth wicket partnership of 71 between Wayne Pearce (35) and Scott Tremain which mixed well timed strokes and sharp singles before Tremain took one risk too many and was run out for 34. With the score on 169 for 3 and seven overs left, Belstone were well placed for a total more than 200 but a tidy spell from Matt Samson (8-0-21-3) pegged them back to a final 40-over score of 189 for eight. With only ten in their team Raleigh were soon in trouble at 10 for two but recovered well thanks to Samson (36) and Buzza (34) who put them ahead of the asking rate until the dangerous Buzza got a ball from Paterson that stopped and lifted which he could only lob back to the bowler. Wickets then fell steadily as Scott Tremain took a fine diving catch at mid on off Richard Drake and David Binns took two excellent catches at mid off in the only over from Chris Walsh (1-1-0-2). Fittingly for Belstone it was skipper Paterson (8.4-0-17-4) who ended the innings by clean bowling Cook for a duck to seal a 64 run win and to ensure that Belstone remain in division two next season. l This Sunday sees Belstone and Sticklepath playing a 40-over match for the newly presented Pearsall Trophy; the game starts at 2.30pm at Rew Meadow.