Belstone travelled to Dartington for a rain reduced 30-over match last Sunday where a well-judged run chase gave them a four wicket victory.  Dartington got off to a good start with an opening stand of 36 before Belstone hit back with five quick wickets to leave the home team struggling on 54 for five at the half way stage.  Highlights thus far were the one-handed return catch taken by Pete Gross off a fierce drive from opener Darren Colegate (31) and Richard Drake’s swoop at cover to run out Palmer for a duck, while Andrew Paterson kept one end tight with a six over spell that conceded only eight runs.  Dartington then regained the initiative thanks to an excellent 97 run partnership (which only ended with the last ball of the innings) between Scott Stevenson, who played some perfectly timed drives in his 51 not out and James Nicholls, whose strong hitting brought 44 runs. 
Chasing 152 to win, Belstone began slowly with an opening partnership of 31 between Dennis Edwards (19) and Alex Mortimore (10) but by the twelfth over were up with the five-an-over run rate required after Drake had increased the tempo with a rapid 22.  The game swung further Belstone’s way when Gross hammered the first four balls of Carter’s spell for 14, Carter rapidly withdrawing from the attack after conceding 29 from three overs.  Gross (32) and Wayne Pearce (25) took Belstone to the brink of victory with a fine 61 run partnership in seven overs leaving Phil Woods (10 not out) to straight drive two boundaries in successive balls to end proceedings in the 27^th over.  Belstone man-of-the-match: Pete Gross.
Belstone travel to Bridestowe for their afternoon fixture this Sunday.