BELSTONE?S penultimate Buckley Cup match at Spreyton produced another exciting finish last week.

Belstone got off to an excellent start at five runs an over thanks to Eddy Jones and Pete Gross who both retired having reached their quarter centuries.

The momentum was continued by the middle order so that the visitors finished their 20 overs with a total of 123 for four. For most of their reply Spreyton were up with the run rate as Briscoe reached a rapid 25, and, at 82 for two after 15 overs, it was anyone?s game.

Then a series of run outs and three crucial overs from Gross and Rob Sandercock who both grabbed two wickets, meant that Spreyton lost seven wickets for 21 runs.

This brought Briscoe back to the crease but he could only manage 11 of the 20 runs needed off the last over, leaving Belstone the victors by 9 runs.

In the South Devon League last week Ashburton were unable to raise a team thus gifting fellow strugglers Stokeinteignhead 12 points.

This week they arrived at Belstone for another relegation battle with just five players but for much of the game this deficiency was well hidden as Pascoe (51) and Wright (68 not out) batted well against a Belstone attack that failed to take advantage of the situation. Only two wickets fell as the visitors used all their 40 overs in reaching 169 on a slow outfield.

For ten overs of the reply Pascoe and Broughton restricted Belstone to 31 for one but with the introduction of Ashburton?s occasional bowlers the game changed dramatically as Colin Wyatt (73 not out) and Wayne Pearce (7 fours and 3 sixes in 78 not out) hit the remaining 140 runs in 40 minutes off 13 overs to secure a nine wicket win and 10 valuable points.

This Sunday Rew Meadow is the scene for another crucial bottom of the table clash when Stokeinteignhead are the visitors.

Buckley Cup Table 2004 (for results received to 9.8.04)

Team P W L Pts

Yeoford 7 5 2 78

Tedburn 6 4 2 67

Belstone 7 5 2 61

Spreyton 5 2 3 43

Sticklepath 7 0 7 38