Barbarians in pursuit but Calver lead the way
by David Bell, 1st June 2004

Calver lead the way at the head of Division Two. They bowled SWD II out for 124 on Saturday (C.Sampson 45, J.Mundy 4-59) and inched their way to a one wicket victory (D.Finch 4-18). In pursuit are Chesterfield Barbarians. They compiled 226-6 (Paul Daniels 82 no) away at Grindleford, who held out for the draw at 139-9.

Bakewell climb into third after another impressive win, this time at home to Hathersage II. Hathersage were sent back for 119 (Loseby 43), which the home side passed with eight wickets in hand (Madin 61 no). Millhouses skittled Stocksbridge II for just 75 (Mumtaz 4-30, Heaven 4-9) and raced to a ten wicket success (Rehman 45 no). Stocksbridge first string fared better, restricting Parkhead II to 147-9 (Chris Siddall 6-61) and reaching their target for the loss of six men (Eric Price 45).

Shock of the day in Division Three came at Duckmanton Lodge where league leaders BT Pensions / AGD were beaten by lowly Richland Wanderers. Pensions were bowled out for 129 (Paul Durward 51, Mark Wilmott 4-24) and went down by nine wickets (Andy Tann 56 no). Second placed De La Salle II were also defeated. De La Salle made 166-9 (Allender 5-55), which was passed by Hundall II for the loss of five men (Wigfield 50, Bayston 41, Haywood 4-52).

Centralians II posted 186-9 (Paul Kennedy 49, Dave Verity 58, Roger Wainwright 6-31) against Laycocks, who achieved the draw at 145-7. University Staff II played their way to 185-6 (Marcus Jones 71 no) and dismissed Old Edwardians / Collegiate II for 147 (Tom Gray 4-37, Maqsood 4-33). Dronfield Woodhouse scored a considerable 240-7 (Vessey 76 no, Herbert 48) and bowled out Calow for 111.

Centralians are the new leaders of Division One. On Saturday, they dismissed Baslow for just 95 and completed an eight wicket win. They carried their good form into Bank Holiday Monday with 213-7 (Ian Marshall 78, Dan Stow 47) against University Staff, who replied with 149-5.

It was Staff's second draw of the weekend, the first having occurred against title chasing Old Edwardians / Collegiate. Old Eds were dismissed for 163 (Fowkes 58, Khan 6-54, Needham 4-37) as Staff replied with 140-9 (Pearson 4-46). On Monday, Old Eds posted 134-7 at Stanton In Peak, who were sent back for 113 (Davy 4-43, Richards 3-7 hat trick).

Stanton passed Ashford's 135-8 on Saturday for the loss of four wickets thanks to Dave Rosling (57 no). Ashford went on to make 207-6 on Monday at SWD, but fell to another defeat as the home side gained a two wicket win (R.Everitt 74, P.Foster 6-54). Everitt capped a fine weekend by making 76 in SWD's 193-9 (Summerhill 57) at Hathersage on Saturday and seeing his side to a 61 run win.

De La Salle compiled 181-9 (White 95) against Hundall, who closed out at 120-7. In a high scoring affair, Parkhead rattled up 307-5 (Altaf Junaid 78, Ian Davis 114) at home to Holmesfield, who made a valiant attempt to chase but fell short at 248 all out (Tom Hamilton 61, David Ward 52, Alex Rees 5-85).

Zingari continue to head Division Four. On Saturday, they bowled Baslow II out for 89 and gained a two wicket win (Mather 4-19). Bank Holiday Monday saw them encounter Chesterfield Barbarians II, for whom Paul Sharman compiled a league record score for an amateur of 179, including 20 fours and 10 sixes from only 81 balls. Zingari replied to the Barbs total of 302-9 with 101-4 (Andy Nunnington 43). The Barbs dismissed Dronfield Sports for just 84 (Gary Mullins 4-16) on Saturday and won for the loss of two men (Julian Wall 56 no).

Millhouses II are in pursuit of Zingari at the top of the table. They posted 169 against Stocksbridge III, who were bowled out for 92 on Saturday. Monday saw Millhouses crumble to 63 all out (N.Gul 4-25) against fellow chasers Transport, who in turn capitulated for just 42 (R.Khan 6-18, Azhar 4-20). Transport fared better on Saturday, restricting BT Pensions / AGD II to 130-8 (T.Fox 5-36) and gaining an eight wicket win (J.Slack 43 no, A.Kadir 60).

The remaining matches on Monday saw BT Pensions / AGD II skittle Baslow II for just 82 and claim a five wicket success. Stocksbridge III were sent back for 106 by Coal Aston, who reached their target by seven wickets. On Saturday, Ridgeway blasted a massive 348-9 (Byers 101, Burke 54, Roberts 48 no, McLoughlin 43) but were left to rue not making a declaration as Great Longstone held out at 152-3 (Mantell 51 no).