Skies clear for County League double header
by Alan Rowley, 3rd May 2004

The first of the season's two double headers took place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend and, with most of the previous few days spent under overcast skies with heavy rain falling, few expected much cricket to survive. However, on Saturday morning, the skies cleared just in time for some interesting looking County League fixtures.

Saturday's action saw a Division 1 nailbiter at Alfreton Park, where the newly promoted home team must have thought they were in with a real chance of defeating last year's third placed Lullington Park. The visitors looked to be heading for a total of around 140 until Danny Gough hit the final two balls of the Lullington innings for sixes.

Danny Gough

Aizaz Cheema

For Alfreton, John Aspinall was the top bowler with 3 for 32. Pakistani Aizaz Cheema, bowling uphill off a shortened run-up, took 2 for 25. No-one really shone with the bat for Lullington, Steve Gough top scoring with just 27.

Alfreton started cautiously with only 14 runs coming from the first 10 overs at a cost of two wickets. It was Aspinall who pulled Alfreton back into the game with a brisk 45, but Andy Goodwin (4 for 17) and George Chapman (3 for 11) installed panic into the Alfreton middle order.

Lullington appeals turned down

When the final over was reached, Alfreton were just able to hang on for a draw, finishing 45 runs adrift of the Lullington total.

Scores:
Alfreton (8) 110-9 (Aspinall 45, G Chapman 3-11, A Goodwin 4-17) drew with Lullington Park (16) 155-9 (Aspinall 3-32)

At Christchurch Meadows, the much talked about West Indian Daren Powell was in the thick of the action with 5 for 39, but his efforts were in vain as Belper crashed to 78 all out against Marehay. Neil Sparham was again the star for the visitors, following last week's 4-for, including a hat-trick, with another four wicket haul, this time at a cost of just 14 runs. Danny Parkin was an able assistant returning figures over 3 for 13.

Scores:
Belper Meadows (5) 78 all out (Sparham 4-14, Parkin 3-13) lost to Marehay (27) 156 all out (G Buckley 31, Colledge 31, Powell 5-39) by 78 runs

There were also Division 1 wins for Spondon, against Duffield, and Rolleston, who beat Elvaston. The games between Dunstall and Aston-on-Trent and West Hallam White Rose and Ticknall were cancelled due to waterlogged grounds.

Full Saturday results can be found here.

Highlight of Sunday's play was at the Town Ground, Heanor where Andy Brear (107) and Trevor Hessey (pictured right) who hit exactly 100, put on 200 for the first wicket in Heanor's huge 258 for 3. Marehay 2nds had no answer to this onslaught and were skittled out for 74, a meagre 184 runs adrift. Top bowler was Adam Harchuk who returned 4 for 19.

Scores:
Heanor Town (27) 258-3 (Hessey 100, Brear 107 (200 For 1st wicket)) beat Marehay (1) 74 all out (Taylor 4-29, Harchuk 4-19) by 184 runs

A mile further down the road, Langley Mill were tasting their first action of the 2004 season with a home game against Staveley Welfare 2nds. The Millers, newly promoted to 4 North, have recruited Paul Leatherland from Stainsby Hall and the seasoned campaigner celebrated with three wickets, as did skipper Richard Davey.

The home side looked in serious trouble at 4 for 2, chasing 164, but Paul Bailey and Lewis Trower (pictured left) clawed the Millers back into the game with a hundred partnership. Trower fell for a patient 35, whilst Bailey bludgeoned his way to 72, with several huge sixes off the luckless Welfare bowlers.

When Bailey eventually went, the Millers were well on their way to an easy four wicket victory.

Scores:
Langley Mill Utd (22) 165-4 (P Bailey 72, Trower 35, Steers 3-32) beat Staveley Welfare (5) 164-7 (Stokes 37, D Douglas 40, Leatherland 3-55, Davey 3-37) by 6 wickets

In Division 1, Alfreton recovered well from Saturday's shock to convincingly beat West Hallam by 9 wickets. Matt Lineker was the star for Alfreton hitting an unbeaten 111 and taking three wickets in an excellent all round display.

Scores:
Alfreton (22) 183-1 (Mw Lineker 111*, Sapinall 43*) beat West Hallam WR (4) 181-8 (Hendricks 45, Tittershill 50*, Mw Lineker 3-36) by 9 wickets

At the Maryfield, Sparham and Parkin were again playing starring roles in the home sides draw with Duffield. Sparham hit 52 runs and Parkin had another three wicket haul.

Scores:
Marehay (16) 170 all out (Sparham 52, Vickerage 34, Sims 6-43) drew with Duffield (10) 141-8 (Elliott 86*, Colledge 3-26, Parkin 3-37)

Langley Mill's Paul Bailey on his way to 72

At Aston-on-Trent, Charlie Ault's unbeaten 91 was to no avail as Elvaston crashed out by 7 wickets. Spondon's overseas Ryan McFadyean was amongst the wickets on his first weekend in English cricket. The promising South African took 4 for 29 as Spondon thumped Lullington Park by 131 runs. In the other Division 1 games, Dunstall beat Ticknall by 2 wickets and Belper Meadows were beaten by Rolleston, despite some fine knocks by McGonigal, Dalls and Powell.

For the full results from Sunday, click here.