Derbyshire Premier League report - 01/09/01
by Gwyn Jones, 2nd September 2001

With two more fixtures to be completed for most teams there are important issues to be resolved at the top of the table and at the bottom

Stainsby Hall 234-7 drew with Ockbrook 266-7
Man of the match - Adrian Marsh

Here we had the top side playing the side at the bottom. Yet there was very little to choose between them. Stainsby won the toss and opted to field, so they were on the defensive at the start. Ockbrook rattled the score along , with Dave Hallack (65) and Johnny Owen (96) putting on 124 for the first wicket. Dave Wood added a brisk 31, but Ockbrook never felt confident enough to declare and they used up their full 55 overs. Simon Lacey produced a steady spell for Stainsby, taking 3-65 and Stainsby's openers Peter Davies and Adrian Marsh made a confident start, putting on 80 for the first wicket when Davies was out for 19. Although they lost seven wickets each Stainsby batsman offered stout resistance, whilst Ockbrook fielded and bowled with great enthusiasm. Throughout this innings Adrian Marsh stood firm, combining aggression with grim defence and he was still there at the end on 128 not out. The draw gave Ockbrook enough points to move to the top of the table, leading Denby, who were without a game, by seven points.

Wirksworth 179 lost to Dunstall 226-3 declared by 47 runs
Man of the match - Jamie Benstead

Dunstall are creeping up on the leaders and the 27 points they gained from this game takes them close to Denby. They sprang a surprise at Wirksworth by including Tim Munton, the Derbyshire opening bowler.Batting first they piled on the runs with good knocks from Derek Randall (44 ), Jamie Benstead (53), Phil Simmons (54 not out) and Danny Spasic (35 not out). They declared the innings closed after 51 overs. As things turned out they needed exactly the same number of overs to bowl Wirksworth out. There was resistance from Mark Woodward (52), but Tim Munton's spell of nine overs, ending with 3-11, was crucial in slowing down the run rate Martin Clewley, at the other end, took 3-77.

Langley Mill 170-7 beat Quarndon 166 by 3 wickets
Man of the match - Sam Patel

Langley Mill's late season revival continued with a good win over Quarndon who have also been performing well of late. Their victory owed much to an excellent spell from Sam Patel who took 6-30. In the Quarndon batting line-up nobody stayed long enough to go beyond 30, with four of them out in the twenties. When the Millers batted Richard Marsh provided the winning knock as he carried his bat for 52 not out. For Quarndon Kevin Newbold took 3-63.

Alvaston & Boulton 132 lost to Ilkeston Rutland 133-2 by 8 wickets
Man of the match - Mark Baker

A&B, the current League Champions, are going through a rough patch. They are not scoring enough runs, as witnessed by the fact that their top scorers Rick Crowther (30) and Darren Pooley (30) are two of their main bowlers.Credit must go to the Rutland bowlers, Mark Baker (5-25) and Martin Brandrick (4-28), and when they batted Brandrick was there again steering his side to victory with a captain's innings of 53. This win moves Rutland up the table but they remain vulnerable.

Sandiacre Town 238-8 drew with Chesterfield 176-8
Man of the match - Rob Attwood

This was a good winning draw for Sandiacre. They batted well with good performances from Rob Attwood (65), John Trueman (36), Chris Attwood (30) and Ian Hopkins (37). For Chesterfield David Adams took 4-54, and then scored 46, with the help of Alan Gofton (53). John Trueman was the best of the Sandiacre bowlers, taking 3-42.

Next Saturday's fixture between Ilkeston Rutland and Stainsby Hall could have a vital effect on the relegation issue.