Buckley cup

Hatherleigh Colts v

Belstone

BELSTONE knew that only a maximum 15 points would keep them in the hunt to overtake Tedburn St Mary at the top of the table - and to do that they would have to take all ten wickets in under 20 overs.

That looked unlikely as the home side rattled along to 52-2 at the half-way stage with Reader (16), Christian McLaren (13) and Jack Barkwell (19) all batting well.

Sam Ewen held a fine running catch in the deep to dismiss McLaren but elsewhere catches were dropped and run-outs were just missed as the fielders were put under pressure by Andrew Fishleigh (21).

With four overs left only six wickets were down but suddenly the last four fell in eight balls to Tom Fogerty (3-0-18-2) and Rob Sandercock (2.5-0-17-2) to leave Hatherleigh all out for 98.

To gain those maximum points Belstone needed to win while losing seven wickets or less and after Richard Drake had smashed three boundaries and a six off Strawbridge's first over this looked eminently possible. However, once Drake had retired for 28 in the fifth over the other batsmen struggled to pierce the well-set field to such an extent that only one more boundary was hit in the next 13 overs.

Strawbridge recovered well to concede just five runs from his next three overs while Robert Cockwill and Davies also bowled accurate spells.

Scott Tremain (19) and Chris Walpole (11) had to resort to risky singles in a stand of 29 for the third wicket but all the while the required run rate was increasing.

Fourteen were needed from the last two overs, and six from the final over. The tension was finally relieved when Jimmy Ewen (10 not out) lofted a four over mid-on to give Belstone a five wicket win with two balls to spare, as well as those all-important 15 points.

Buckley Cup P W L Pts

Tedburn St Mary 12 10 2 152

Belstone 11 9 2 138

Spreyton 11 9 2 136

Hatherleigh 11 4 7 91

Sticklepath 12 3 8 90

Yeoford 11 1 10 73

North Tawton 8 1 6 48