Ilkeston on top
by Mike Taylor, 22nd June 2003

For the second week running, Chesterfield batted first and were unable to compile a sufficiently high total. This time the opposition was Ilkeston Rutland rather than Quarndon and it was a case of being put in to bat rather than opting to bat first. But the end result was little different with another big defeat.

With the Ilkekston opening attack of Ian Banks and Australian Brad Scully both claiming a wicket in their opening over, Chesterfield had lost the young Andy McCarroll and the experienced Andy Brown without a run on the board.

When Banks claimed the prized wicket of David Adams, the visitors were left reeling at 4-3 and matters would have been even worse but for an early reprieve for Simon Lacey. Lacey took advantage of the fielding lapse and with Alex Hibbert took the total past 50 before the fourth wicket fell as Hibbert (26) tried to take on veteran seamer Alan Green.

The arrival of Dean Hopkinson (pictured above) ushered in his team’s best period of play on the day. It was a welcome return to form for the long serving Chesterfield batsman who combined with Lacey to add 110 runs at just over four an over. With the score at 162-4 and ten overs left, there was the prospect of setting a challenging score on a strip where the ball was not always coming on to the bat sufficiently well for the batsmen.

But it was at this point that Lacey (85) was subject to a curious dismissal off a two bouncing delivery and Ilkeston rallied with some tight cricket to place incoming batsmen under pressure. Hopkinson (80) maintained the chase for runs at one end, with a series of magnificent shots, but runs were in short supply at the other end as wickets tumbled and Chesterfield were finally dismissed one ball short of the 55 over mark for 219.

All five Ilkeston bowlers were amongst the wickets, but the pick of the pack was Banks with 3-29 of 10 overs, five of which were maidens. The bowlers were supported with some fine out-fielding on the wide expanses of the County Ground.

Chesterfield’s hopes of an early breakthrough receded after a strong appeal for a caught behind was rejected in Rahim Karim’s opening over, and thereafter David Smit and Matthew Cassar set about their task with relish, dispatching loose balls and forever looking for quick singles.

By the halfway stage of the 55 over allocation, the home team were exactly half way towards their target of 220 to win with all wickets standing. The departure of Smit (54) at this point offered little respite to Chesterfield as George Moulds (41*) joined Cassar (106*) to take Ilkeston to a comfortable nine wicket win with six overs to spare.

Easy for Rutland, as shown by their new remote control scoreboard

The Chesterfield attack found the going difficult. Lacey and Adams did restrict the run rate but chances were few and far between, some of the better ones coming from near run-outs as Ilkeston ran aggressively between the wickets.

The 22 points for the win enabled Ilkeston Rutland to move to first place in the Premier League, equal with Sandiacre Town but with the clear advantage of a game in hand. On the day they looked an impressive outfit and their undefeated record for the season never looked in great danger against a Chesterfield side that remain in the chasing pack.