After three attempts to play the 2023 Blights Motors North Devon League Cup Final between Belstone and Bideford, all thwarted by rain, it was decided to give up and share the trophy. Then someone had the bright idea that the Division One League game between the two clubs on Sunday 9 June could also be treated as the Cup Final. Finally, it was a pleasant day and the game was played in great spirit with a splendid tea between innings.
Bideford won the toss and made a solid start, with openers James and Jack Ford putting on 57 for the first wicket before a spectacular one-handed leaping catch by Sam Ewen off the spin of Alex Fillingham sent back James for 20. After that Belstone held more good catches and steadily worked their way through the visitors’ batting so that no other partnership went beyond 20 runs. Shaquan Glasgow, Bridestowe CC’s overseas signing from Barbados, who is playing regularly for Belstone, was the pick of the bowlers (8-1-18-3) along with Fillingham (8-0-45-3). Opener Jack Ford top scored for Bideford with 57 as they reached 160 for 9 at the end of their 40 overs.
In reply, Belstone lost both openers with only 20 on the board, but the rest of their innings was dominated by Glasgow, apart from a brief cameo from Kian Burns who made 20 off just 14 balls. Glasgow finished on 91 not out with seven 4s and five 6s as the home side reached their target at a rate of knots for the loss of six wickets, with 13 overs to spare. Glasgow has already scored 396 runs for Belstone in seven games; only being dismissed three times gives him an average of 132!
Chris Walpole
Roy Page’s photo shows Belstone captain Richard Drake with the trophy and the rest of the team; l-r James Simons, Sam Ewen, Kian Burns, Shaquan Glasgow, James Ewen, RD, Marcus Walters, Phil Woods, Harry Bushin and Alex Fillingham.
