Belper Meadows' promotion hopes falling away
Derbyshire County League Burton Glass Division 2 Belper Meadows 1sts (12pts) 177-7 (46 overs] (P Ince 52, J Wells 31, M Chambers 3-23, E Croese 3-25)) drew with Nutbrook (15pts) 192-9 (46 overs] (B Eaton 34, E Croese 33, R Henshaw 32, A Wheatcroft 4-46, J Woznicka-Wells 3-33)
Belper Meadows first XI hosted promotion rivals Nutbrook CC last Saturday and it was the visitors who ended the day far the happier as they edged a winning draw from a game the hosts really needed to win to keep their promotion prospects alive.
The visitors lost the toss and were stuck into bat on a slow, fast drying Meadows wicket.
The opening batsmen came face to face with young quick bowler Adam Wheatcroft who certainly won the battle against the batsmen taking 4-46.
Overseas player Anthony 'Ray' Meere bowled an intimidating spell of fast bowling but only claimed one wicket.
Scores were littered through the line up with B Eaton and E Croese hitting 34 and 33 respectively at the top of the order.
R Henshaw hit an enterprising 32 before becoming the last of Joe Wozniczka-Wells' 3-33.
The visitors finished with a par score of 191-9 in their 46 overs.
Phil Ince opened the batting for the first time in around 15 years only to step up, guiding his team towards the target with a knock of 52, looking as if he never been away.
However, runs became an issue as batsmen came and went including key man Tom Roe for just 20.
Stability came late on as number nine batsman Joe Wozniczka-Wells met up with Pete Jenkins at the crease, the light became a real issue as the hosts drew closer to the target however having lost usual opener Joe Slater with injury, realistically only one wicket remained.
The pair put on 58 with Wozniczka-Wells (31 not out) outscoring his partner, Jenkins finishing with 29 not out.
The visitors took a winning draw from the game leaving Belper with just 12pts, almost eliminating any promotion ambitions with second placed Tutbury to play this week.
Seconds
The seconds travelled to Breadsall, a team fighting relegation, so Meadows had high hopes of a good result.
The away side were stuck in to bat on a wet and muddy pitch, with the score at 16-2 this looked to be a good decision by the home captain.
However, a gritty stand of precisely 150 between 14-year-old opener Tim Williscroft (74) and Dave Whiteley (52) pointed Meadows back in the right direction.
Alex Hodgkinson was the pick of the bowlers with 2-33 as 5 of the six bowlers took wickets.
An aggressive cameo of 27 from Dave Nightingale towards the end of the innings led Meadows to 214-8 in their allotted overs.
The reply started poorly for the hosts, Matt Wheatcroft (3-21) taking the first wicket before a run was on the board.
At 36-4 Belper were well on top and looking like taking 27pts from the game.
Neil Horton bowled a tight spell of spin claiming 1-18 as resistance from the onslaught came from Brian Booth and Halley Porkess hitting 24 and 37 respectively.
The game looked to be heading towards a draw but an inspired spell of 3-25 from Dave Whiteley at the end of the Breadsall innings saw Belper needing just one wicket in the three balls remaining.
The wicket wasn't taken leaving the game as a draw.
Meadows are now just 12 points clear of third-placed Alfreton who have played a game more than Meadows but are in good form and it now looks to be dependant on the final game of the season between the two clubs in a battle for promotion at the Meadows on September 12.
Thirds
The thirds travelled to bottom-of-the-table Little Eaton in good form and hoping for a win.
The visitors batted first and with two ducks, including young George Hudson's third league duck on the bounce, Belper were in trouble.
With Bryn Carnelly (35) and Dave Farnsworth (31) Meadows looked to stage a recovery but four wickets apiece for Mark Morgan and Martin Allsop, Belper were bowled out for a cheap 121 in the 44th over.
The reply started well for Little Eaton as opener Chris Hankinson made 28 but some demon slow bowling from away side skipper Jon Borland (5-18) made the chase more difficult. A hat-trick with-in the 5 for took the wind well at truely out of the home team's sails as they collapsed to 84 all out in 29.1 overs leaving Meadows with 27pts. Promotion is still possible for Belper going into the final three games.
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Weather for Belper
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
