"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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Old Bailey brings 'the follow on' to justice Langley Mill's star batsman Paul Bailey battered 'the follow on' into submission with a stunning unbeaten 130 in the traditional end of season game at Station Road. Bailey's knock, which came off just 63 balls, and included 5 fours and 13 sixes, wasn't the only batting highlight in a game which yielded 588 runs from the 80 overs.
On a damp track and under overcast conditions, any thoughts that this would be a day for the bowlers were short-lived. Batting first, Langley Mill skipper Aaron Tullett launched into 'the follow on' opening attack of Steve Woodward and former Millers' opening bowler Dwayne Buckley. Both of these players had points to prove against the Millers, but Tullett won the day with a blistering fifty off just 34 balls. Jack Scott was first to fall, edging a ball to keeper Dave Bush, off the pacey Buckley, with just 12 on the board, but it was 82 runs later before the visitors were to gain further success. Dave Hallsworth was next to go, run out for 18, and with the score on 117, Tullett finally went for one big shot too many and was bowled by Simon Widdison. Tullett's 78 came off 72 balls and included 9 fours and 3 sixes. Andrew Bailey didn't last long blasting one straight at James Franco, off Richard Adams, for four, but Millers' second team skipper Jordan Sisson hit a patient 35 before he became Widdison's second victim, caught by Woodward.
James Harrison went off Widdison's next ball to reduce the hosts to 159 for 6, but the firework display was about to start. Paul Bailey, whose first fifteen balls had only produced 8 runs, suddenly went berserk when he was joined by Chesterfield skipper Simon Lacey, guesting for his local club. Bailey raced to his fifty off just 36 balls and reached his hundred a mere 20 balls later.
The seventh wicket partnership had put on 130 runs from just 11 overs. Even with Lacey out, the onslaught continued as Andrew Ball and Bailey put on 61 from the last four overs before Ball was caught by Adams, off Bush, for 23 off the last ball of the innings. Pick of the bowlers was Widdison whose four wickets came at a cost of 57 runs.
Eventually 'the follow on' innings got underway with Wing and Rob Stewart opening the batting. The pair moved effortlessly to 42 without incident, but occasional bowler Hallsworth struck twice to remove Wing, bowled for 20, and Stewart, caught by Gavin Mee, for 17. At 76, Widdison fell, well stumped by Tullett, off Luke Rowley, for 11. Rowley struck again on 92 when he forced Dave Buckley into driving the ball straight to Andrew Bailey and the Marehay lad marched back to the pavilion with only 10 to his name. Dennis Wright tied up one end, but wickets fell regularly at the other end. Skipper Adam Harchuk was caught by Andrew Ball and Rob Turnbull was caught by Sisson, both off Paul Bailey's bowling. The Millers had to resort to introducing Lacey into the attack to dislodge the stubborn Wright, and the former Derbyshire spinner finally removed Wright for a fine 41 from 89 balls. Mee picked up Richard Adams, caught and bowled for 5, and Franco, caught by Hallsworth for 4, but Woodward and Dwayne Buckley restored some respectability to 'the follow on' total. Buckley was caught by Ball, off Scott, for 15, but Woodward launched into the Millers bowling attack. Blasting the ball to all parts, in gloomy conditions, the former 'robot like' batsman became Mr Rapido scoring an unbeaten 54 off just 21 balls.
Bush remained unbeaten on 6 as 'the follow on' innings finished with a flourish. The final score was a respectable 238, 112 runs adrift of the huge Millers total, but the day wasn't about winning, it was about eating and drinking. The Millers' girls excelled themselves and the orange, laced with vodka, was lapped up during drinks breaks. A supper of chilli and rice, washed down with cheap beer, ensured the 2006 season ended in style and the customary end of season visit to the Mill proved to be as enjoyable as ever. Here's to 2007. Report headline courtesy of Tabloid Tom. Click here for the scorecard. 
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CHARLIE FRENCH BATS  |
As the players gathered to see out the 2006 season, no-one could have predicted the run feast that was to follow. Indeed, the feast on the pitch was to be talked about almost as much as the feast being prepared in the pavilion by the Millers' legendary catering staff.
Franco went for 35 runs off his two overs, but Neil Wing fared worse. Bailey (pictured right) hit the first five balls of his opening over out of the ground, but with a maximum on the cards, he mis-timed the final ball of the over and could only grab a single. There was no let up for the bowlers at the other end as Lacey struck 4 fours and a six in a rapid 35 before he holed out to Woodward to become Widdison's fourth victim.
After a huge tea, the players and umpires were reluctant to take to the field. The umpires, Terry Dorr and John Goodwin (pictured), in particular were happy to sit with their feet up in front of the big screen, supping tea. If they hadn't been disturbed, they would happily have nodded off.
