North Devon

division one

Sandford v Belstone

ON a hot afternoon at Creedy Park. Sandford won the toss and predictably chose to bat, on one of the flattest tracks anyone will see this season.

The opening pair of old and young in Harry Bushin and Ryan Dennis, set about the Sandford opening pair with gusto and sent down some excellent deliveries and this bore fruit soon enough, with Ryan Dennis dismissing Sandford opener Toby Lockhead for a nine runs.

Belstone then looked to seize the initiative, with captain Richard Drake setting an attacking field. The other opener Chris Blake was soon back in the pavilion, bowled by a ripper of a slower ball by Bushin. However, the Sandford ’pro’ Matthew Hopkins was looking dangerous, striking the ball beautifully, especially through the cover region.

Drake then brought on the pacey Tallan Burns from one end and the spinner Callum Mallett from the other. This combination immediately brought results as Mallett bowled Freddie Filor with the perfect off spinner - pitching outside off stump, ripping through the gate and whipping the bail of the top of leg stump.

Unfortunately for Belstone this initiative couldn’t be sustained as Hopkins caressed his way to 57, with nine fours along the way.

Steve Morrish, Ryan Glass and Kieran Vinnicombe all chipped in with useful 20 odds.

With Sandford on 225-7, Harry Bushin came on and promptly dismissed Jem Fawcett with a great swinging delivery. This brought Harvey Blake to the crease, and he popped the ball up straight into the hands of a grateful Ryan Dennis, two in two balls for Bushin!

Milford then strode to the crease and took guard. Captain Drake brought the field in, putting immediate pressure on the new batsman. Bushin steamed in and down came the delivery to complete his hat-trick — the third of his Belstone career — as Sandford were all out for 225.

After tea, Belstone openers Eddy Jones and Phil Woods tried to get Belstone on the front foot and ahead of the required run rate of 5.63 per over. However, Jones played a nothing shot at a wide-ish delivery and was caught behind with just two runs to his name. Matty Dennis came on to dominate the Sandford attack.

After 20 overs and the halfway point in the innings, Belstone were 96-1, with Woods having glided his way to 50, having been dropped six times.

Dennis brought up a classy and cultured half-century. When on 53 and after hitting eight boundaries, Dennis was bowled by Fawcett, but it was a great innings and one that had Belstone eyeing victory.

Sam Ewen then joined Woods, who smashed anything remotely loose to all corners of the ground. Ewen chipped in well, with some massive hits, leaving him with an unbeaten 42 come the end of the match. However, the afternoon belonged to Woods, who brought up his hundred in typically powerful style, which also brought Belstone within moments of the winning post. Woods’ hundred came in 126 minutes and was the fifth of his Belstone career. The winning runs came with three overs or so to spare and capped a stupendous display by the travelling Belstone lads.

T20 Buckley Cup

Belstone v Yeoford

TWO days after their win at Sandford Belstone came crashing down to earth with a dreadful batting display against Yeoford in the T20 Buckley Cup.

At one point Belstone were reduced to 29-8 after 12 overs, in danger of recording their second-lowest total ever.

Problems began for the home side when Andy Coren bowled Richard Drake in the second over; by the time Coren finished his allotted four overs he had picked up three more wickets while conceding just four singles.

Paul Leach played his part at the other end with two wickets as all the uppish attacking strokes went to fielders, so that by the time these bowlers came off the score was 20-6.

First change D Uren took two more quick wickets but from then on Ryan Dennis and Chris Walpole (10 not out) held the attack at bay while slowly adding some runs. In all they put on 41 for the ninth wicket until Dennis was out for 23 to the last ball of the innings.

For a while during Yeoford’s reply Callum Mallett gave Belstone some hope with three batsmen clean bowled but M Leach (25 retired), Hawkins (17 not out) and D Uren (19 not out) carried them home easily for a seven wicket win with eight overs to spare.