Banana skin avoided as SWD push on for title
by Tom Hilton, 29th July 2007

SWD push on with their title challenge having escaped a potential banana skin at home to Calver. 5-41 from Street restricted the league leaders to 130-9 but a tremendous bowling performance of B Sampson’s pace (5-31) and N Khan’s spin (5-32) saw off Calver for just 81, 50 of which were scored by Hilton.

Holmesfield keep up the pace also with an 8 wicket win at Hathersage, B Walker the first centurion of the match for Hathersage as they closed on 172-9 only for Pearson to upstage him with 104 not out as Holmesfield cruised home. Stocksbridge slipped to the foot of the table by a single point as they were back in the hutch for a meagre 78 thanks mainly to 5-21 from Junaid. He also put in a solid contribution with the bat accumulating 41 as Parkhead reached their total with just 2 wickets down.

Stanton seem to have clawed themselves out of trouble at the right time. They were bowled out by University Staff for a below par 95. They made light work of Staff’s batsmen however as they were skittled for just 42. Collegiate IV also did their survival chances a favour as 64* from Ellis saw them to 182-7. Ashford fell just 10 short of that total for the loss of 9 wickets despite 94 from Paulett with Tasker taking 5-43 for Collegiate. 6-44 from Pursehouse restricted De La Salle to 156 but despite a useful 43 from Timms, Hundall fell short as they were bowled out for 125 with Mitchell collecting a tidy 5-36.

In Division 2 Parkhead continue to set the pace with a routine victory at home to Walkley. Set 97 to win, they managed it with relative ease only losing 2 wickets. It was comprehensive for Centralians also as they closed on a first innings total for 147-6 with Stow’s 42 playing an important role. 4-10 from Goodson did the damage as Baslow were sent packing for just 45 completing a 102 run win for Cents.

Second place Sheepbridge fell slightly further behind Parkhead with an incomplete win at Chesterfield Barbarians. The visitors first innings total of 168-7 was enough to claim victory but they could only take 5 Barbs wickets as they finished on 117-5.

Nightmare for SWD II as they were whipped out for just 35 against Ridgeway. Excellent figures of 4-11 going to Keys for his first innings effort. Ridgeway strolled to victory with 8 wickets in tact. It was victory for Grindleford by 5 wickets as they chased down the 132-9 that De La Salle set them to win. 47 from Green in the first innings set De La Salle on their way but 4-44 from Skelton halted them in their tracks keeping it to a chaseable total.

The weather continues to hold back progress in Division 3 with only 2 games going ahead. It was a 3 wicket away win for Hundall II as they were able to bypass the 159-6 that Collegiate V had set. An away win also for Duckmanton Lodge at Dronfield Woodhouse. Woodhouse’s Oxley batting well for 41 of his team’s 94 but the total was nowhere near enough as Duckmanton won by 7 wickets.

6-15 from Weston Park Hospital’s Das was the fillet for a 3 wicket win away at Chesterfield Barbarians II, Das’ wickets reducing Barbs to 101 and enhancing Weston Park’s credentials for playing in a higher league. Stocksbridge III completed a forgettable week for everyone associated with Sheffield University Staff as they bowled them out for just 62 with Rolfe grabbing 4-25. Staff II only needing 87 for victory falling short again as they stay rooted to the bottom.

Baslow II put in an impressive performance to see off Duckmanton Lodge II. 76 from Sadler and 57 from Kirk saw them to 197-8 with Tarton taking 4-56 for Duckmanton. This was a total that Duckmanton never looked like matching as they were dismissed for 102 in reply.