LUSTLEIGH Cricket Club opened their Dartmoor Bails campaign with a home match kindly sponsored by the Primrose Tearooms in the village. Lustleigh won the toss and elected to bat first.

The hosts got into the swing of things with openers Paddy Poustie and Harry Bannister setting the scoreboard moving. Bannister reached a swift 16 off just five balls.

Then came the always dangerous John Wright with an equally swift 27 runs and retiring out (league rules for this evening league mandate retirement at 25 or over if reached with a boundary.)

The Lustleigh middle order continued to add to the score, alongside some unlucky non-starts. Duncan Chapman also reached 23, Darren Greep retired at 25, and Marcus Manners Chapman also got into the 20s. Lustleigh posted an impressive 167 runs from their 20 overs in the first batting innings of the season.

In reply, Lustleigh got into taking equally quick wickets from the Ilsington team. Greep took two and Alex Spring took one wicket, leaving Ilsington swiftly down to 3-1.

Ilsington rallied though, with Sam Stevenson adding 19 runs. Spring returned to help himself to another two wickets, proving to be one of the picks of the bowlers in this match with three wickets total, pegging back Ilsington.

The visitors showed some fight back and managed to reach 101, but not before Edd Griffin had bagged himself two wickets. A couple of dangerous Ilsington hitters were also supported by efforts from Harry Bannister and Duncan Chapman with one wicket apiece.

Lustleigh won the game, played in good spirits from both sides, by 66 runs with a great team performance in the first match of the new league season.

Darren Greep, who took three wickets and scored 25 runs, was the player of the match.

Thanks again to the club match sponsor, Primrose Tearooms.

Lustleigh next face Manaton and Moreton away on Wednesday (May 20).