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Clay Cross (27pts) 145 all out [41.2 overs] (S Bhatt 43, A Eyre 41, A Ali 4-30, J Cox 3-44) beat Belper Meadows (6pts) 117 all out [35.2 overs] (J Branson 4-34, D Greaves 5-40) by 28 runs
Belper won toss and asked Clay Cross to bat first on a typical Sharley Park wicket that would give some assistance to the bowlers.
With Pakistan A international Asam Ali opening the attack and operating around the 85 mph mark things were going to be very difficult for the Cross batsmen to set a good total. However as they have done for most of the season openers Sunil Bhatt and Under 16 Alex Eyre batted with great skill and patience and got Cross off to a flyer. With 67 on the board from 15 hostile overs, Cross lost Eyre (41 off 41 balls) when he was bowled by J Cox. Bhatt (43) and an aggressive 23 from Plant moved the score on before both of them and Hartley were dismissed with the score on 111. P Lemon followed with the score on 114 which left under 15 youngsters J. Lemon and J. Burrow at the crease. They batted with enourmous courage to take Cross up to 133-5 before Burrow had to retire hurt when a low full toss from Ali cracked open his protective box. This prompted another mini collapse and Cross were eventually all out for 146 handing the opposition four extra overs to get the runs.
Cross knew they were in with a chance on this bowler friendly wicket however. Dave Greaves and Jon Branson opening the bowling for Cross and kept things tight from the start but within the first 10 overs Cross dropped five catches and were beginning this one could slip away. Howvere the opening bowlers thought otherwise and Branson got the initial breakthrough having Brookes caught behind and this was the beginning of the end of far as Cross were concerned. Excellent bowling from both ends saw wickets coming at relevent intervals as the pair bowled the first 24 overs between them. Branson picked up a second wicket shortly after the first again with the help of keeper Harltley as Jenkins was caught behind before Greaves took over. He took the next three wickets to fall with the Cox brothers both clean bowled followed by the dangerous Mohammed who was another victim for Hartley. This brought in oversea's Asam Ali who had the capability of taking the game away from Cross. He was going along nicely until Greaves bowled a short ball that was hit high to deep qsuare leg and underneath it was 15 year old J.Lemon who kept his nerves and took a low catch on the boundary prompting celebrations from a Cross side that new they were really in the hunt now with the visitors 71-7. Gardiner then got in the act to bowl Hunt before Greaves completed his five wicket haul thanks to a sharp diving catch by Crowder. However with Greaves bowled out Meadows number 11 Sohail Ahmed belied his batting position and assisted by Lynch they played some attacking strokes to nudge closer to the target. Captain Bhatt decided this was the time to utilise the remaining two overs from Branson and he took just two balls to remove Ahmeds leg stump to gain a 28 run victory.
Branson (4-34) and Greaves(5-40) bowled beautifully and deserve most of the credit for eventually a good day at the office for the home team and keep the Cross lads top of the 2N table at the halfway point.
Scorecard
Belper Meadows (22pts) 182-4 [44.1 overs] (T Roe 85*, R Borland 35) beat Clay Cross (6pts) 178-8 [46 overs] (S Else 48, S Nottingham 31, J Green 35, R Borland 3-42) by 6 wickets
Scorecard
Riddings (4pts) 112-9 [46 overs] (T Spencer 45, S Yates 3-28, M Wilmott 3-12) drew with Clay Cross (20pts) 329-5 [46 overs] (J Clarke 116, B Radcliffe 46, H Wilmott 37, S Walker 90)
Clarke took his side over to Selston to face Riddings 3rds knowing a good result would round off a good first half of the season. Batting first they ammssed a big total as the runs flowed. Youngsters Radcliffe and Wilmott made useful scores but the main bulk came from Walker and a first Clay Cross century for captain Clarke who made 116. Unfortunately they couldnt force the win as they were left one wicket short and Clarke maybe pondering if a declaration should have come. Yates and Wilmott snr took three wickets each.
Scorecard
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Author: Wayne Mardle
Date: 01-07-08 11:16
report is quite inaccurate
Sunil didn't follow 'soon' after Xander
and we got to 110-1 so were never 90-2!
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