Stanton skittled on a day for the bowlers
by Tom Hilton, 3rd June 2007

It was a day for the bowlers in Division 1 of the Surridge Sport Yorkshire and Derbyshire League with only Parkhead making it past the 200 mark. Their total of 253-7 against Stanton which included 52 from Pass, 49 from Brown and 48 from Burkinshaw and Jones was 179 too many for Stanton who in reply were skittled for 60.

Sampson wrecked havoc against Hathersage taking 6-20 as they were bulldozed for 81. SWD’s run chase was complete without any real problems as they won with 7 wickets still in tact. Surprise of the day came as University Staff upset the league leaders Holmesfield. Chasing 142 for victory, Staff succeeded for the loss of 5 wickets to inflict Holmesfield’s first defeat.

De La Salle cruised to a 9 wicket win away at Stocksbridge. The hosts could only muster 52 thanks largely to Mitchell’s 5-19 and Howard’s 4-31 for De La Salle. The visitors then compounding Stocksbridge’s misery with a clinical batting performance. Sheffield Collegiate came out on top in another low scoring affair with Hundall. Hundall falling 36 runs short of Collegiate’s first innings total of 169-6. And the pieces still aren’t fiting together for Calver. Despite 43 from Street they were reduced to 132-9 away at Ashford. Clegg doing the hard work for the home side taking 5-52. Ashford won with a couple of overs to spare and 5 wickets to leave Calver still looking for that illusive first win.

Division 2 leaders Sheepbridge came unstuck away at De La Salle II. The home side setting 153-9 thanks in part to Simmerson’s 46 and Bulmer’s 60. Rodgers took 4-56 for Sheepbridge who ran out of time just 13 short of victory as they closed on 141-9. 5-18 from Wainwright helping to halt them despite 73 from Rodgers.

A struggle for Grindleford at home to SWD II. Batting first SWD amassed 186-6 Grindleford grinding out 95-7 in the second innings. Parkhead II went level on points with Sheepbridge as they beat Millhouses. A score of 142-8 was enough as Millhouses could only manage 120 in response. A victory against Centralians must have been a tonic for struggling Bakewell as the 187-7 they set was never threatened as Cents struggled to 108-9 from their 46 overs with Peach collecting 6-40.

Walkley chased down the biggest total in the division overturning Ridgeway’s 161-9 which included 58 from Byers and 5-32 from Hudson. They reached their target with 4 wickets still in tact.

In Division 3 Hathersage beat Millhouses by 5 wickets. The 143 set was kept manageable by Woolway who took 4-33, Heaven top scoring for Millhouses with an unbeaten 48. A close encounter between Dronfield Woodhouse and Hundall II saw Dronfield victorious.  They managed to defend 135-6 which featured 53 from Vessey and Gibson’s 4-63. Dronfield’s match winner was undoubtedly Yate who’s 6-41 helped bowl out Hundall for 123.

Goel’s 4-45 and Bramwell’s 6-32 did the damage for Sheepbridge II as they dismissed Duckmanton Lodge for 82. They made hard work of the run chase however, losing 6 wickets on their way to 83. Whittington Wanderers' 127-4, which featured 52 from Knight, was reached fairly routinely by Collegiate V. Gibson top scoring for Collegiate with 41 and Needham taking 4-30. Needham’s  4 the only wickets Collegiate lost as they collected maximum points.

52 not out from Slack saw Transport to victory by 2 wickets against Hallam. Seemingly a bowlers paradise at Transport as Hallam had only set 79 for victory. And Sheffield Centralians edged to an 18 run win against Whittington Wanderers II. Green adding 5-39 with the ball to his 51 not out with the bat for Cents.

Division 4’s bottom club Dronfield Sports Contact picked up an important win at Stocksbridge III. Dronfield set 122 with Thwaites collecting 5-16. Stocksbridge were removed for 79 with Ghani’s 5-28 an invaluable contribution. 72 from Mohanamurali helped Weston Park Hospital to a 6 wicket win against University Staff II. Staff’s 176-7 including 54 from Alleyne and 49 from Beech must have seemed like a competitive total but not competitive enough on this day.

Zingari piled on 210-4 at home to Ashford II, Ruparelia the top scorer with 75. Ashford never looked in danger of reaching their total as they stuttered to 135-5 with Stoltz not out 45. Not enough runs again for Baslow II as they were bowled out for 116 by Chesterfield Barbarians with Fletcher and Bradbury taking 4-34 and 4-29 respectively.

An unbeaten 61 from Peach saw Barbs home by 6 wickets and Stocksbridge II continued their assault on the Division 4 title with an away win at Duckmanton Lodge II. Stocksbridge set 159-9, Price top scoring with 61 and Barfoot taking 5-25 for Duckmanton. McNeil’s 5-28 for Stocksbridge halted Duckmanton enough to leave them on 128-8 at the close.