Belvedere secured promotion with victory over neighbours Weston 3rd XI.

BELVEDERE secured promotion with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over local rivals Weston 3rd XI, ending the season just three points behind champions Peasedown St John.

Weston elected to bat and were soon in trouble at 9-2, losing Pack and Ahmed, the former bowled by Sam Mccrea. Henry (18) and Dom Mayo (9) offered some resistance to excellent spells from Mccrea and Paul Davis, before the latter removed Mayo.

Henry was bowled by Mccrea and then bowled Hawkins to leave Weston’s innings in tatters at 36-5. Fin Mayo (11) and Dec McNulty (18 not out) were the only other batsman to make double figures as Weston were dismissed for 86 in the 35th over.

Mccrea finished with excellent figures of 9-4-19-3, ably supported by Davis (12-4-33-2), Callum Neate (8-1-22-1), Jack Neville (5-2-7-0) and Neil Chadwick (0.4-0-1-1).

Kevin Crockett and Mike Hosey ensured there were no early disasters in their response, adding 47 before Crockett (31) was dismissed by Ahmed in the 11th over. Chadwick fell for five and Sam Neate for 21, leaving Hosey (13 not out) and Pete Hooper (6 not out) to bring up victory in the 18th over.

Sam Mccrea`s bowling spell earned him the All Stars Sports Bar man of the match award to round off an excellent season for Belvedere, in a season where the side regularly contained seven players aged under 23.

The 2nd XI made the short trip to Banwell occupying one of the two relegation spots. Despite losing by seven wickets, results elsewhere meant that Belvedere escaped relegation.

Belvedere were dismissed for 118 with only All Stars man of the match Rich Turner (44), James Parker (22) and Nathan Hancock (22) making double figures.

Banwell eased to victory for the loss of three wickets, which fell to Sam Jennings (1-37) Joe Statham (1-36) and Hancock (1-10).