Belvedere defeat East Huntspill by three wickets to remain top of their division.

BELVEDERE returned to winning ways with a nervy three-wicket win at East Huntspill to remain top of their division with two games remaining.

Belvedere invited their hosts to bat on a hot afternoon and the home side made steady progress before Sam Mccrea bowled Butt with the score on 29.

East Huntspill accumulated steadily to reach 50-1 before the introduction of Jack Neville decimated the home side. Neville took four wickets in a remarkable three overs to leave the hosts floundering at 75-5.

The lower order dug in to enable their side to reach 162 all out in the 42nd over, but not before Neville had finished with a career best 6-34 off 12, aided by four catches from Kevin Crockett at short extra cover.

Sam Mccrea took 2-37, Crockett (1-9), Callum Neate (6-0-17-0) and Neil Chadwick (12-1-40-0) were both unfortunate to finish wicketless.

Belvedere lost both openers Crockett (10) and Mike Hosey (10) with 34 on the board and built their response around Chadwick who looked in fine form.

Wickets continued to fall around Chadwick though as Mccrea (11) and Sam Neate (11) succumbed to Cooke and Phillips. When Chadwick fell for an excellent 59, Belvedere had slipped to 115-5 which soon became 134-7 with Pete Hooper and Neville quickly departing.

Fortunately, Callum Neate (29 not out) and Brian Hosey (11 not out) were in determined mood and needing 29 to win off the final seven overs, reached their target in the penultimate over securing a priceless maximum 35 points as they head into next week’s top of the table clash at home to Peasedown St John.

Jack Neville was deservedly named Allstars Sports Bar man of the match.