T20 Buckley Cup

Yeoford v Belstone

BELSTONE closed the gap with leaders Hatherleigh at the top of the T20 Buckley Cup to just a single point after a workmanlike 17-run victory over Yeoford at Shobrooke Park.

Batting first they sped to 19 for one off the first three overs but then Yeoford opening bowlers Paul Leach and Andy Coren (4-0-22-0) put the brakes on with the next four overs yielding only one run — on top of which Leach took two more wickets to finish his four over spell with excellent figures of three for ten.

The pressure was eventually relieved when Jamie Walker (10) hit a big six and from then on the pace gradually accelerated with useful contributions all down the order from Chris Walpole (21); Ed Stewart (27 retired off 21 balls with three four and a six), Mark Whiteside (21 not out) and Alex Jopling (15 not out), to leave the visitors on 123-6 at the close.

Harry Bushin (4-1-7-2) started with a wicket maiden as he bowled Paul Coren for a duck but after that Belstone struggled to take wickets on the flat pitch. However, they were successful in keeping the run rate down so that at the half way 10-over stage Yeoford were well behind the asking rate at 39-3.

Hawkins played well taking 16 off Jopling’s (3-0-24-1) last over before retiring on 26; Dave Smallacombe conceded 17 from his second over but in-between these explosive bursts nothing much was given away, with Whiteside (3-1-7-0) and Eddy Jones (3-0-13-1) being particularly economic.

L Coren reached 24 not out at the close but the task of scoring 27 off the last over for a win proved too much for Yeoford.