"the voice of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire cricket" in association with
Pure Cricket, - 'supplying cricket equipment to the professional amateur'
Pure Cricket, - 'supplying cricket equipment to the professional amateur'
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"the voice of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire cricket" in association with Pure Cricket, - 'supplying cricket equipment to the professional amateur' |
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Marehay win top of the table clash Going into the sixth round of matches in the County League, four clubs were starting to break away from the rest of the pack and were looking like lively promotion candidates. The top two clashed at the Maryfield where a revitalised Marehay took on newly promoted Rolleston.
It's always a pleasure to visit Marehay, home of last season's Monsters of Cricket charity match. There is a warm welcome waiting and the facilities are first class. Surprisingly, 'Derbyshire Cricket Grounds' calls the ground 'rather bland' and the pavilion 'featureless'. Co-author Chris Higginbottom, at the ground selling copies of this excellent publication, was left to defend the book's comments to the regulars.
Rolleston slipped to 140 for 7 before there was a wagging of the tail which saw the Rolleston total close on 212 all out with 13 balls remaining. Yeomans finished on 84 when he skied Neil Sparham into the safe hands of Simon Base in front of the pavilion. Ian Taylor contributed a rapid 36 before he fell caught and bowled by Colledge. A score of 212 was felt to be a little on the low side for the fast Marehay outfield and the home players went in for tea looking well satisfied with their efforts. Marehay started their reply at a brisk rate, with the vastly experienced Sparham (pictured right) racing on towards yet another fifty. The much travelled Sparham has helped to transform Marehay from a team that looked doomed for relegation mid-way through 2003 into live promotion candidates early in 2004. Needless to say, the visitors were delighted to see Sparham fall just four runs short of his fifty.
Marehay wickets tumbled at regular intervals, but Ady Vickerage with a fine 54 was able to steer the home side home with just two wickets remaining. Yeomans again shone, this time with the ball, finishing with 4 for 47 to complete an excellent all-round performance. This victory sees Marehay eleven points clear of the mighty Dunstall, but with Marehay facing a tough visit to Aston-on-Trent next week and Dunstall entertaining struggling Elvaston, the gap could all but disappear this time next week. Scores: Note: 'Derbyshire Cricket Grounds, A Post-War Survey' by Simon Lacey, Chris Higginbottom and Tom Whittington is available from the authors, or by post from Shipley Hall Cricket Club, The Field, Shipley, Heanor, Derbyshire, DE7 7JH. Price is £10, plus £2 postage and packaging. 
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CHARLIE FRENCH BATS  |
The match itself saw visitors Rolleston taking to the crease first. They started poorly and were soon reduced to 69 for 5 thanks to some tight bowling by Lee Colledge who returned figures of 5 for 48. Only the experienced Darren Yeomans, who topped division two's batting averages in 2003, was able to stem the steady flow of batsmen to and from the wicket. 
