Botha bonanza secures Premier title for Clifton
by Alan Rowley, 7th September 2003.

Clifton become the fifth team to win the Derbyshire Premier League title in the five year history of the competition. They secured the title with an emphatic 201 run win against Denby at Chapel Lane. Star of the show was South African import Ant Botha who scored an incredible unbeaten 200.

Clifton went into the final weekend of the competition with a slight lead over National Club Champions Sandiacre, with Sawley and Long Eaton Park waiting in the wings to capitalise on any slip-ups by the leaders. Following Saturday's games Sawley had been eliminated after a hammering at home to Clifton, and Sandiacre gave themselves a mountain to climb by slipping up against arch rivals Ockbrook and Borrowash.

With Clifton 13 points clear, it was fairly obvious that Chapel Lane was the place to be, and that is how it turned out. The large crowd witnessed an exhibition of a game with Ant Botha (pictured above) following yesterday's 5-for with a faultless unbeaten 200. His innings included 10 sixes and 22 fours and was being described by those present as 'one of the best innings you're ever likely to see.'

Meanwhile, over at Longmoor Lane, a tired looking Sandiacre were struggling to overcome relegation threatened Dunstall. Only a late order thrash enabled them to post a reasonable 252 for 9, but skipper John Trueman appeared to have accepted the inevitable.

James Chapman is spectacularly caught by a diving Karl Krikken off Chris Lewis

Trueman, watching the game from the boundary following a recurrence of a knee injury, said: 'Clifton deserve the title. They have played well all season.' This was clearly an anti-climax for the club following their Lord's exploits on Thursday, and it showed in their performance.

Mark Pykett becomes another victim of Krikken and another wicket for Botha

But the real action was taking place at Clifton where the leaders had finished their 55 overs on 352 for 3. Skipper Simon Moore (pictured right), who had earlier accompanied Botha throughout the majority of his innings, was already sensing that the title was sewn up. When Denby lost James Chapman with the score on 4 and Ian Parkin had to retire after taking a blow on his arm, the trophy was heading for Chapel Lane.

Well, it would have been had it not been in the boot of Clive Harris's car who was umpiring at, yes you've guessed it, Sandiacre. A bit of a slip-up in the organising department guys.

Denby never looked likely to come close to the huge Clifton score, and the only question being asked was will Clifton be able to bowl out Denby. The answer came in the final over of the game with the ninth Denby wicket falling with the score on 151. Parkin didn't return and the title was Clifton's.

All the results from the final day can be found here.