Buckley Cup

Belstone v Yeoford

BELSTONE took a maximum 17 points from their latest Buckley Cup 20-20 evening game against Yeoford, a result that looked unlikely when Yeoford were bearing down on the 134 runs they required with wickets in hand and overs to spare.

The home side began explosively with Jack Barkwell hitting four boundaries in the first two overs before Craig Stanbury bowled him for 18. Ryan and Matt Dennis took the score to 44 in the seventh over before Cleave Collins bowled Matt for 11 in a wicket-maiden over. Yeoford put the brakes on the scoring as the middle order got out just as they were beginning to get established with Dan Uren (4-0-17-3) and Matt Uren (3-0-17-2) doing most of the damage. Ryan Dennis finished on 27 not out with two sixes but the overall total of 133 for nine seemed a little short given the fast – by Belstone standards – outfield. That assessment looked spot on as Yeoford also got off to a good start with Matt Leach taking 18 off Doug Little’s second over before he was out to an elbow scraping caught and bowled by a diving Tom Boother for 20. Matt Uren soon retired on 25 and at 95 for two in the 13th over Yeoford were firmly in control, needing just 39 from seven overs with eight wickets in hand.

The tables were turned by Andy King’s left arm spin (4-0-10-4) and Dave Smallacombe’s accurate spell (4-0-15-3) which saw seven wickets fall for 13 runs in the space of 25 balls, helped by a spectacular knee sliding catch in the outfield by Harry Bushin to dismiss Dom Cochran for a single.

Matt Uren returned to join last man Stanbury but he was bowled by Roy Page’s first ball to give the home team a 25 run win. It keeps them at the top of the table but with Spreyton still in contention with games in hand.