Champs Parkhead cruise to easy victory
by Tom Hilton, 5th May 2008

Defending champions Parkhead cruised to a ten wicket win away a De La Salle. 42 not out from Burkinshaw saw them past the modest 68 set by the home side. 49 from Ward saw Holmesfield to a competitive 127, considering the conditions, and it proved tough for Hundall who scraped home with two wickets to spare. Badcock’s 48 proving vital with Rossington’s 4-37 in vain.

The Rosling brothers Nick and Dave were the main contributors as Stanton were removed for 109 as they scored 41 and 53 respectively. SWD however reached their total for the loss of six wickets, four of which taken by Dave Rosling for 34.

Calver’s first game ended in defeat. Despite 47 from Beauchamp they were bowled out for 113 by Collegiate and were beaten by five wickets. Hathersage look early season favourites to head back to Division 1 at the first attempt as they beat Youlgreave Lodge by seven wickets, having only been set 58 to win.

Burke was the star of the show for Ridgeway scoring 41 as they set an impressive 194-6 against Sheepbridge. He was also the pick of Ridgeway’s bowlers taking 4-17 helped by the equally impressive Evans (4-18) as Sheepbridge crumbled to 82 all out.

Grindleford now sit in the bottom two after Parkhead, helped by 61 from Wheatley closed on 198-8. Grindleford’s attack was led well by Bingley who claimed 5-38 but their batting, with the exception of 51 from Skelton failed to fire as they were bowled out for 122 in response.

90 from Marshall helped Centralians to an imposing 190-6 against Chesterfield Barbarians. 4-26 from Wainwright and 4-24 from Scholey made sure Cents took maximum points as they bowled out Barbs for 113. An inspiring bowling display saw Bakewell bowl out local rivals Baslow for just 47 allowing them to a comfortable eight wicket victory.

Weston Park Hospital were well in control as they removed Millhouses II for just 85 but a stunning display capped with figures of 6-15 from Khan spoilt the party as WPH fell for 63. Layer (71) and Webster (58) scored the bulk of Collegiate V’s 181 for 8 which was kept under 200 by Holmes’ 6-65. In response SWD reached their target with relative ease. Robinson (57*) and Holmes again with 53* seeing them across the line.

Sheffield Transport set a reachable 134 against Walkley but Cotterill with 4-33 and Gul with 4-30 made sure Walkley couldn’t get close, dismissing them for 69. A convincing win for Dronfield Woodhouse as 6-18 from Lewis skittled Hundall II for just 69. The response was clinical, marshalled by Drew’s 41 Woodhouse won by nine wickets.

Centralians II managed to grind out a draw against Whittington Wanderers. Wanderers set 206-2 with Tann collecting 51 and Fletcher stranded three short of being the first to reach three figures this season the key men. In response, an unbeaten 50 from Foster was the highlight as Cents closed on just 90-5

50* from Pashley helped Wanderers’ II to 98-5 from their 46 overs which Stocksbridge II bypassed with four wickets in hand and in Division 5, Apperknowle continued where they left off last week. Mitchell’s 65 helped them to 171 before they steamrolled Wingerworth Saltergate II for just 69. Evill offering the only resistance for Wingerworth, he was left unbeaten on 47.

WPH II posted 175-6 with Avnish top scoring with 41 against Stocksbridge III. 5-37 from Kiran and 4-14 from Sanjay were the outstanding performances as Stocksbridge were bowled out for 122 despite 45 from Siddall. Youlgreave Lodge II helped by 54 from Smith closed on 104-9 but Zingari edged the close encounter as they won by three wickets.

163-9 was enough for Dronfield Sports Contact to collect 25 points this week. Ghani (49) and Masoor (40) chipped in with the bulk of the runs. In response University Staff II fell short, Hadley’s 42 the highlight for them but 5-18 from Houlden completed a 61 run win.

Baslow II chased down Chesterfield Barbarians II total of 137 for the loss of just four wickets and Ashford II fell only five runs short of victory chasing Hallam IV’s 114.