Belstone almost certainly clinched promotion to the South Devon League Division One with a four wicket victory over Dawlish & Teignmouth last Sunday.  Opening bowlers Aidan Easterbrook and Andrew Paterson gave visitors Belstone a good start by claiming a wicket apiece with only 12 on the board after six overs of accurate pace.  Dawlish recovered thanks to strong middle order batting from skipper Horne (33) and Fisher (41) but even on a fast outfield they were unable to cut loose against a varied Belstone attack, the most successful of which were Easterbrook (three for 37 from nine overs) and Chris Walsh (two for 17 from five).  Wring marshalled the inexperienced lower order Dawlish batsmen as best he could before being last out for 27 with the total on 155 and three overs of the innings unused.

Belstone’s successful run chase was entirely due to Johnny Coburn and Paterson.  Coburn, who came in when the first wicket fell to the fifth ball of the innings, was joined by No 8 Paterson when the score had declined to 60 for six in the 13^th over.  None of the Belstone victims had reached double figures as Wring (three for 33) and Fisher (two for 28) in particular induced a string of careless strokes.  Taking their cue from the news that England had just recorded their historic three wicket win over Australia at Trent Bridge, they rapidly turned the game on its head with an unbroken partnership of 96, a seventh wicket record for Belstone.  Powerful cover driving from Coburn, who hit 9 fours and 2 sixes in his highest score for the club (80 not out), was matched by Paterson who stroked 8 fours and a six in his undefeated 46 as the game rushed to a conclusion in just 27 overs.  Belstone man-of-the-match: Johnny Coburn.

This Saturday (3 September) there is a car boot sale at the Belstone ground with gates open to the sellers at 9am and the public from 10am.