Dymond the jewel in 'the follow on' crown
by Alan Rowley, 29th July 2006

Our side's first attempt at the Twenty20 format ended in failure at Victoria Avenue, but not after a magnificent batting display from Belper Amateurs' Steve Dymond, and a deadly bowling performance from skipper of the day Alex Burnham. Dymond hit a fifty on debut as his unbeaten 52 produced 7 fours and 2 sixes. Burnham bowled superbly to capture three Ockbrook wickets at a personal cost of only six runs.

Burnham won the toss and asked Ockbrook & Borrowash to take first knock on a glorious summer's evening. Umpires 'Law 43' and 'The Yank' (pictured left) led the players on to the pitch and with five debutants in the side, the skipper's job wasn't going to be easy. Chris Windmill and Tommy Zydzienowski set off like the proverbial express train, and it looked like 'the follow on' were going to have to chase a huge score.

Windmill was particularly destructive crashing 5 fours and 4 sixes before falling two short of his fifty in the sixth over, caught by Neil Wing off Burnham. His 48 came from only 20 balls as Ockbrook lost their first wicket with the score on 64. Zydzienowski fell in the same manner four runs later for 15, but with Ockbrook going at over ten an over, spin was employed to slow down the onslaught.

Langley Mill duo Neil Smith and Andrew Bailey bowled a tight line and when Louis Rimmington became Burnham's third, well caught by Bailey for 6, 'the follow on' were back in the game. Ashley Gough crashed a rapid 27 before he became the first of the legendary Terry Bell's two victims, caught by Burnham.

At 118, Ockbrook lost their fourth wicket when Bell bowled Lyndsey Morgan for a first ball duck, but this only brought ex-Derbyshire lad Matt Cassar (pictured right) to the crease. Steve Bray bowled Ross Wharton for 19 with the score on 140, but Liam Adams and Cassar took the hosts on to 175 before Cassar attempted to launch Steve Woodward out of the ground. Woodward found the top edge and the ball looped high into the cloudless sky and the bowler took a fine return catch. Cassar's 35 included 5 fours and a six and came from just 18 balls.

Garret Rimmington joined Adams, and the youngsters took Ockbrook through to a 20 over score of 184 for 7, Adams finishing unbeaten on 17. A target of over nine an over was going to be a tough challenge for the inexperienced visitors.

With the barbeque serving up enormous 'OBCC burgers' and the beer flowing freely, 'the follow on' lads could happily have sat it out on the boundary. The burgers consisted of a quarter pounder, rasher of bacon, cheese slice, onions and relish and were an absolute steal at two quid. One of the biggest selections of draught and bottled beers ever seen at a club cricket ground were available to wash down this gastronomic feast.

Dymond and Wing donned the pads to open 'the follow on' reply and everything was going to plan until the Clipstone Forest big hitter was bowled by George Morgan for 19. Dymond raced on to fifty and at this point he had to retire, as the rules of this particular game dictated. This was the point where everything started to go astray for the visitors.

Bailey was bowled by Louis Rimmington for 6 and Zydzienowski caught Burnham off the same bowler for 2 and suddenly the visitors were 100 for 3 and falling behind the asking rate. Ockbrook skipper Steve Rimmington threw the ball to Cassar and the Aussie ripped through the middle order as the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals.

Nigel Turner was first to fall, bowled for 14, Woodward was caught by Steve Rimmington for 7, and the big Ockbrook skipper held on to another sharp catch to dismiss Dennis Wright for 5. Bray became Cassar's fourth when he was bowled for 6, and with eight down for 127, an Ockbrook victory was a formality.

There was still one more classic moment to come in this game, however. John McCollum had already thrashed two boundaries, and was searching for a third when Rimmo took an astonishing one handed overhead catch to dismiss the Cutthorpe lad for ten. McCollum marched over to the Ockbrook skipper on his way to the pavilion to shake his hand as Rimmington completed an excellent fielding display.

'the follow on' XI
Back row (left to right): Alex Burnham (Duffield), Dennis Wright (Toton Sycamore), Neil Wing (Clipstone Forest), Steve Bray (Clipstone Forest), Nigel Turner (Bridon), Steve Dymond (Belper Amateurs)
Front row (left to right): Andrew Bailey (Langley Mill), Neil Smith (Langley Mill), Terry Bell (Rainworth Welfare), John McCollum (Cutthorpe), Steve Woodward (Belper Amateurs)

Ockbrook first teamer Windmill bowled the final over and picked up the last wicket to fall as he bowled Smith for six. Ockbrook and Borrowash were victors by 39 runs, but the result didn't matter to 'the follow on' lads as they enjoyed a few beers and a game of cricket at one of the best cricket grounds in the region. With some of the lads used to playing on park pitches, the chance to enjoy the facilities at Victoria Avenue were welcomed.

Same again next year lads!