Belper got off to a poor start as Paul Fletcher struck with the new ball. He bowled Bakel and then has Simon Hunt unluckily lbw. Paul Beastall then came to the crease and smashed the ball to all parts as he struck 13 fours in his 65. Every shot he played was pure quality. It was a relief when Steve Halford bowled him. It was to be Steve Halfords day as he removed Beastall, both Pascual brothers, Dave Jones (6), Pete Brookes (26) and Ernie Fisher (3) to finish with 6-40, easily his finest effort of the season. Belper finished on 166-9. In reply Simon Hunt struck straight away as he completely beat Andy Brear for pace. Brear departing for only his second duck of the season. Steve Halford slogged 19 quick runs before he had to leave early, Ian Walker 12 and Adam Harchuk 3, but the real clinching partnership was between the Fletcher brothers as they put on 72 runs for the 5th wicket. Paul eventually went for 39 as he nicked Simon Hunt behind. With runs still needed Jim Wright was run out for 8 and Mark Cliff also went to Hunt for 1 to give Belpers young fast bowler good figures of 3-39. With 3 runs needed of the last over Len Hunt bowled a no ball from the 1st ball and the batsman ran 2 to give Stapleford the 3 runs they needed. Mark Fletcher finished on 69 which included 6 fours.

SCORECARD STAPLEFORD TOWN vs BELPER MEADOWS at Hickings Lane, Stapleford on 02/08/03 Belper Meadows P.Bakel b P.Fletcher 5 S.Hunt lbw b P.Fletcher 11 A.Pascual b Halford 15 P.Beastall b. Halford 65 D.Jones ct P.Fletcher b. Halford 6 R.Pascual b. Halford 0 P.Brookes ct Walker b Halford 26 P.Brammall ct Swain b Harchuk 11 T.Jones NOT OUT 13 E.Fisher ct Brackenbury b Halford 3 L.Hunt NOT OUT 2 Extras 9 Total (for 9 wickets, 46 overs) 166 Fall: Bowling: P.Fletcher 14-3-51-2 R.Swain 7-2-17-0 A.Harchuk 5-0-28-1 S.Halford 14-2-40-6 J.Wright 6-1-24-0 Stapleford Town S.Halford ct Beastall b Brammall 19 A.Brear b S.Hunt 0 I.Walker ct Beastall b. L.Hunt 12 M.Fletcher NOT OUT 69 A.Harchuk ct Beastall b Fisher 3 P.Fletcher ct A.Pascual b S.Hunt 37 J.Wright RUN OUT 8 M.Cliff b S.Hunt 1 R.Swain NOT OUT 0 I.Brackenbury C.Richmond Extras (details here) 19 Total (for 7 wickets, 45 overs) 167 Fall: Bowling: S.Hunt 11-3-39-3, P.Brammall 6-1-22-1 L.Hunt 10-1-39-1, E.Fisher 14-2-40-1, T.Jones 4-0-17-0 Stapleford Town win by 3 wkts