After a first half of the season that where the firsts had surprised all, including themselves, they saw themselves sat at the top of the 2 North table and all of a sudden back to back titles and Division One cricket was a reality. However the clubs sat just below them would push and not let it happen easy and the dreaded August holiday period needed to be overcome.

The return fixtures got underway with Darley Dale, with overseas by now, visit Sharley Park. Clay Cross batted first and as had been the story for most of the season the foundations were laid by the opening partnership. The score had reached 121 before Eyre was bowled for 33. Bhatt continued his heavy scoring by being the main contributor in that stand and then also in the 128 run second wicket partnership with Lemon jnr. Bhatt was eventually out LBW for 166 near the end and Lemon jnr ended 42*. It was then down to the bowlers to pressure for the win. Overseas Tillakaratne had scored heavily since his arrival but today was to be different, in only the third over a big heave at a delivery from Branson saw it go straight up and Lemon jnr held the catch. This was the early breakthrough the Cross lads needed and they didn’t look back from there. The Darley Dale lads dug in for the draw but wickets fell at regular intervals and they were eventually all out for 140 in 40.1 overs with four wickets each for Branson and Greaves.

This was followed by a first trip to Duffield in a number of years. A pleasant but damp ground greeted them and again the Cross lads were asked to bat first. For once the opening partnership didn’t deliver as Bhatt was LBW for 13. Lemon jnr, Greenhalgh and Eyre followed quickly. A stand was needed and Lemon snr and Hartley answered the call as they added 76 for the next wicket. Lemon eventually finished 52* in a total of 173-6. Again early wickets were needed to get on top and again they came. Branson removed the overseas before two wickets from Greaves and a sharp run out from point by Burrows reduced the home side to 11-4 and staring down the barrel. It was at this point the game turned as Jordan looked to pull a short delivery from Greaves with the score on 19. His attempt went straight to Eyre at mid wicket but the chance went down. Jordan went on to bat through the innings and finish on 65* and was initially helped by Clark who made 37 but crucially lasted 67 deliveries. Eventually the innings closed on 131-7 but a chance had gone begging to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

The following week saw Quarndon visit the Cross and, 15 games in, the Cross were finally defeated. A poor batting display in which only Bhatt (68) and Greaves (46) made double figures saw them finish on 150-9 which was well below par on a decent Sharley Park track and outfield. A couple of early wickets from Branson boosted hopes of an escape but the visitors batted steadily and despite two more wickets from Gardiner they eventually reached their target with 6 wickets and 10 overs to spare.

Following the first league defeat of the season the firsts travelled to Wirksworth hoping to get back on track. They were greeted by a red hot day, an extended but half cut Wirksworth outfield and new signing from Chesterfield Chris Fletcher who was making his debut. The run of batting first continued as the Cross batted first. The main contribution again was Bhatt with 71 before the innings was steadied by Lemon snr (35) and Fletcher (30) just as it could have slipped away. The final total was boosted past 200 by some big hitting by Greaves (26). It was always going to be hard to shift the relegation battling home side and once a couple of early wickets fell they settled for the draw. Their innings eventually finished on 130-6.

The visit of Denby the following week was the start of a hard period for the team as they were missing a number of players who had gone on holiday. Batting first the order was changed and Greenhalgh fell early. However his opening partner, Lemon jnr, batted well to lay the foundations of the innings as he batted through for 90* and along with contributions from Bhatt (46), Fletcher (22) and Hartley (17) the Cross amassed 197-5. This was an achievable target for the visitors and they made a confident start adding 63 for the opening wicket. The Cross were up against it but up stepped left armer Gardiner to make his mark. In a fell spell he reeled off 13 overs to finish with 6-34 and rip the heart out of the Denby batting and they finished well short on 138-8.

The visit of Chesterfield the following week fell foul of the weather so it was two weeks later at Pilsley that the players took the field again still missing a few players. For once the Cross lads took to the field first as Pilsley were sent in looking for the key wicket of star batsman Bin Nasir. Again it was Gardiner who stepped up and as some of the others leaked runs it was he who took the fight to the opposition returning figures of 14-7-21-3 including the key wicket of Bin Nasir for 47, a failure by his standards!! Late hitting from the middle order boosted the home side to 206-5. Over the last few years chasing totals has always been a bit of a problem for the first team and a few nerves were probably evident at tea as they prepared to chase down their target. For once however they proved to be unfounded and despite the early loss of Lemon jnr the target was chased down comfortably. Another fine hundred from Bhatt (131*) and a fine 60* by Greenhalgh led them to a 9 wicket win with 34 balls to spare.

With four games left it was a huge win and left the lads with a 50ish point lead and four to play. Duffield were still there abouts and Meadows were pushing hard but the Cross lads knew it was theirs to throw away now. The next game saw Sth Wingfield visit and it all went a bit wrong!! A lacklustre performance with ball and bat led to a crushing defeat as Wingfield amassed 203-8 before a fine bowling performance from Spencer rolled over the Cross for 139.

That second defeat of the season set a few hearts racing and was a reminder that it wasn’t going to be a coast to the end of the season and the title. It was now more or less and two horse race between the Cross and Meadows with three games left. The Cross started the run in with a tough trip to Ambergate, a ground that had never really been kind in terms of positive results over the last few years. The Cross lads came out fighting and a strong fielding and bowling performance restricted the home side to 159-8 with a few batsmen getting starts but not going on to get the big score. Lemon snr was the main bowler with 4-28 from 14 overs, a fine performance on a small ground. The chase was again not easy, Eyre fell early and then despite 43 from Bhatt and 36 from Fletcher wickets again fell in the middle to leave the Cross needing runs from the lower order. Up stepped Greaves and Hartley to take the game by the scruff of the neck but for once it wasn’t Greaves doing the big hitting. He made a steady 15* whilst at the other end Hartley went for the glory and it was his big six, to finish 33*, that saw the Cross home and to a vital 22 points.

So there it was, the final double header weekend and the Cross sat top of the table 49 points clear of Meadows who were the only team that could catch them and the Cross due to visit Meadows on the final day. With the Cross needing six points to confirm the title all hopes that it would be done and dusted on the field as they hosted bottom side Belper Ams were dashed by the fabulous British weather!! By midday the Cross game was cancelled and as most of the team started to arrive at the ground for a beer news filtered through that Meadows were also cancelled and the beer was switched to champagne to mark an extraordinary season that had exceeded all expectations and with one game to go!! The trophy arrived about half 3 and the thoughts were that that was it for the season with little chance of play the following day!!

However that wasn’t to be the case as it stopped raining, dried up a bit and all of a sudden 11 headed to Meadows to play the final game. Cross batted first and were all over the shop!! Bhatt was wrongly adjudged caught behind off his thigh pad and the rest crumbled with only Branson (15) making double figures as they were all out 57 in 18.4 overs. A quick turn around saw a start in the rain which started to get heavier and with the score on 5-0 from 2.2 the players left the field. Tea was taken, the rain got heavier and then stopped prompting a mass clean up operation from a couple of the home side as the rest seemed as bothered about playing as the Cross lads. After much farting about play was finally cancelled at 5:30pm and the season was over!!

So the 2009 season will see Division 1 cricket at Sharley Park with the club competing at its highest level ever. Along with the thirds gaining promotion from the bottom division, the seconds coming very close to making it three promotions and major ground work meaning a flatter ground for next season things are very much on the up at Clay Cross CC…long may it continue!!

Below are various bits of info from the season.

Final League Table

Batting Averages

Bowling Averages

Fielding Stats

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