Belstone entertained Surrey tourists Ashtead last Thursday.  Andy King and Richard Dartnell soon found the Belstone attack to their liking, bringing up a classy century partnership before King retired on 57, with seven 4’s and a six.  In fact the first wicket didn’t fall until 131 runs were on the board in the 23^rd over, when Dartnell popped one back to bowler Richard Drake.  Belstone then managed to contain the middle order to around five runs an over, but their cause was not helped by a surfeit of wides, which contributed a significant 36 extra runs to the visitors 40 over total of 213 for six.

After Pete Gross was bowled early in the reply, Drake and Dennis Edwards (27) put on 64 for the second wicket with Drake reaching his third half century of the season before falling to a skier for 53.  The middle order failed to contribute so at 99 for six after 21 overs Ashtead were firmly in control.  Johnny Coburn then shared partnerships of 31 for the seventh wicket with Johnny Carter (9) and 53 in 28 minutes with Rob Hall which brought the home side right back into the hunt.  Coburn also reached his third half century of the summer with ten 4’s and a six before falling to a well judged running catch by Courtney on the long-off boundary off the bowling of Ashtead skipper Tom Reed.  Hall hit a few more lusty blows before he was last out for 19, giving Reed match-winning figures of six for 29, as Belstone fell 17 runs short.  

Paignton completed the double over Belstone in a rain affected top of the table clash in Division Two of the South Devon League last Sunday.  Put into bat visitors Belstone were indebted to captain Wayne Pearce who held the innings together either side of a long rain break with a well-judged mixture of attack and defence.  He remained undefeated on 42 as Chris Smith ran through the lower order to finish with five for 16 as the innings ended on 102 with three balls of the reduced 26 overs remaining.

Scott Baldry (19) and Simon Mantell (14) began positively for Paignton before catches in the deep by Andrew Paterson and Drake off Harry Bushin made them 23 for two.  Neil Edmonds (27) took the home team to within 40 runs of victory before explosive opening overs from Paterson and a double wicket maiden from Chris Gomersall brought Belstone right back into the match with the score on 62 for five in fading light.  Careful batting by Rob Stables (11 not out), Andy Kingdon (14) and Neil Mantell (10 not out) then saw Paignton through to a hard fought four wicket win.  Belstone man-of-the-match: Wayne Pearce.