Stabbo win thriller at the Mill
by Alan Rowley, 2nd June 2003

Sunday saw my first visit of the season to Station Road to watch the Millers take on Stabbo in the first round of the Wright Cup. And what a game it turned out to be.

If you believe the rumours, you will be surprised that cricket is still taking place in Langley Mill. Predictions that the club would fold and the ground be turned into a retail park or housing estate proved to be way off the mark. Cricket at the Mill is definitely alive and kicking!

Gone are the mercenaries who quit the club when it was on its knees, but the regulars are still there and the club isn't short of players and helpers. The bar was open all day, as was the food bar which was serving burgers and chips all afternoon. After the match, the ladies put on a barbeque, despite the heavy rain.

If you thought the Millers were down and almost out, think again.

On the field, Richard Davey won the toss for the Millers and elected to bat. The track was a belter, and Langley Mill set off like an express train. Stuart Mee was first to fall watching helplessly as the ball rolled into his stumps and dislodged a bail. At the other end, Paul Bailey (pictured right) was in sparkling form hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes in his 66 before he edged to 'keeper Parkinson off Harchuk.

Andy Ball took over and held the Millers together with a fine 39 until he holed out to Andy Brear (pictured top and right) again off the bowling of Harchuk. A spell of tight bowling tied the Millers down for a while, but skipper Davey launched into the Stabbo bowlers with a rapid unbeaten 43 (3 fours and 3 sixes) at the end.

Langley Mill's innings closed after the 46th over on 252 for 5.

To be in with a realistic chance of victory, Langley Mill needed to get rid of danger man Andy Brear (pictured above) cheaply. Their chance came with the score on 72 when Brear offered a difficult chance low to wicketkeeper Barry Ottewell's right. The chance went begging.

Brear has been in sparkling form all season, and today was no exception. His 125 contained 9 fours and 5 sixes, and the innings brought Brear's season total to the 700 mark.

Stapleford started to wobble a bit towards the end, but Brear held them together well, aided by Ian Brackenbury who finished unbeaten on 33. The visitors reached their target with two wickets and four balls remaining. Andy Ball (right) finished with 3 for 37 and Steve Bailey contributed 3 for 35.

It had been a great days cricket played in the best of spirits by both teams. The main talking point after the game was whether Andy Brear would break Sparham's seven year run scoring record of 1,378. A modest Brear told me: "Sparham is a better cricketer than I will ever be. It will be a shame to take his record." With the season barely started, it would take a brave man to bet on Sparham's record remaining intact.

Final scores:
Langley Mill Utd 252-5 (P Bailey 66, Ball 39, Davey 43*) lost to Stapleford Town 253-8 (Brear 125, Brackenbuy 33*, Ball 3-39) by 2 wickets

Read the Stapleford view here.