Several deliveries short of a full over
by Mark Simmerson, 15th May 2006

It’s long been suspected that cricketers are several deliveries short of a full over and that so many games were played last weekend is proof enough. Despite awful weather, about half of the fixtures were played to a finish. Most remarkable was probably the Division Two game at Grindleford, where the home side, lead by 104 not out from Tom Skelton and 84 from Jim Marshall, racked up 244-2 against Chesterfield Barbarians.

Barbs, already dismissed twice for totals in the 50’s, should have fallen miles short, or so Grindleford must have reckoned. They reckoned, however, without John Denby. He smote an undefeated 141 and with 52 not out from Latter, Barbs won by 7 wickets.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Parkhead II were all out for 118 (A.Hullett 5-37), which Sheepbridge passed with 6 wickets down. University Staff made 201-7 (John 49, Sharma 46), but rain prevented Dronfield Woodhouse from starting their innings. The same pertained at Sheffield Collegiate III, whose reply to Bakewells’ 178 (Gibson 4-54, Longley 4-55) never started. Baslow against DLS II and SWD II at Sheffield Centralians II never started at all.

SWD have moved ominously to the head of Division One after beating Sheffield Centralians. Brad Sampson took 6-fer again, this time returning 6-22 as Sheffield Centralians were sent back for 73. However, it wasn’t plain sailing at Olive Grove Road, as Works lost 5 before attaining the target. Stanton went to Hathersage and mustered 71 as wily old left-arm slow Nick Somerton snaffled 6-4. Hathersage lost 6 wickets before edging to the win.

Ashford made 137-9 (Ward 4-31) and John Carrington returned 5-17 to bowl out Holmesfield for 96. Calver scored a useful 157 (Beauchamp 40, Hughes 6-74, Yardy 4-76), then Marsh with 68 not out took Hundall to the win by 7 wickets. At the Wheatsheaf Parkhead racked up a formidable 291-4 declared (Altaf 118, Bowers 100 not out). But they were ultimately frustrated as with weather forced the game to be abandoned when seven overs were left of the Millhouses innings. Millhouses were just 169-4 (A.Khan 49) at the time. De La Salle and Stocksbridge never got under way at Beauchief.

The only game to survive in Division Three was at Millhouses II. John Esberger took the season’s best haul - 7-37 as Hathersage II were 153 all out. But the home team were then rolled over for 105. Likewise, in Division Four, only one game - possibly because only two teams were bonkers enough to play - was completed. Chesterfield Barbarians II made 122-9 (Fletcher 44, Sutcliffe 5-10). Sheepbridge II just short, all out for 115.