BELTON entertained Old Catton Saturday keen to kick-start their faltering season and managed a nine-run win with Phil Plummer hitting 118 runs. Typically in the monsoon that passes for an English summer, a brief but heavy downpour delayed the start by 15 minutes and persuaded the Old Catton skipper to insert Belton on a damp wicket.

BELTON entertained Old Catton Saturday keen to kick-start their faltering season and managed a nine-run win with Phil Plummer hitting 118 runs.

Typically in the monsoon that passes for an English summer, a brief but heavy downpour delayed the start by 15 minutes and persuaded the Old Catton skipper to insert Belton on a damp wicket.

Belton tried a new opening partnership of the two Steves,

Day and Parr, but they found conditions difficult as they attempted to provide some sort of foundation to the innings.

The visitors' bowlers were in a particularly frugal mood as Belton struggled to keep the runs scored even with the overs bowled. Seventeen runs were posted in 17 overs and both openers had gone.

Catton's Barry Clemitson had returned the remarkable figures of 8-5-4 in his first spell. One third of the innings had departed.

The Belton middle order decided to try another tactic. Phil Plummer decreed that the aerial route was the only option and began a fearsome assault on the bowlers.

He found double-figure support from Gerry Jackson (14), Richard Goreham (10) and Farhad Khan (36). But, make no mistake, this

was The Phil Plummer Show. He smacked seven sixes and 10 fours on his way to 118.

Clemitson's last four overs cost him 40 runs and M Plunkett surrendered 45 in four to Plummer's irresistible stroke play.

Predictably, some time was lost whilst the players dodged the showers. Two-thirds of the overs had produced almost 200 runs and tea was taken after Belton had posted 219 from 43 overs.

Clemitson's 4-44 was the pick of the visitors' bowling figures.

The shell-shocked visitors

re-grouped and set about challenging Belton's total.

The sun came out and they prospered in the middle order.

They had reached 146-4 in 35 overs and looked like providing yet another twist to this devilishly unpredictable match. Farhad Kahn and Rickard Goreham provided the required bowling heroics for the Commoners.

First Khan bowled the dangerous Paul Prime for 32. Then Goreham removed Fossey for 26 and completed Belton's comeback by taking a smart catch at square leg to dismiss Lakey for 41.

Catton challenged to the last but were always seeking someone to provide the big hits that would enable them to reach their target.

The visitors finished on 210-9 and the clock showed 20:40. Predictably, it was nearly dark.

Gerry Jackson, with 4-40, and Farhad Khan, with 4-48, led the Belton bowling attack.