Cancellations and modest totals in YDCL first day action
by Tommy Hilton, 27th April 2008

The first Saturday of the new season in the Sheaf Sports Yorkshire and Derbyshire League brought with it the cancellations and modest totals which have become the trademark of early season league cricket. Ashford’s riverside ground offered a lot to the bowlers as De La Salle fired them out for 89 and reached their goal for the loss of five.

The highest scorers in Division 1 were SWD who chased down Holmesfield’s 164-7 with the last pair at the crease, meaning D Ward’s impressive 7-43 were in vain.  Junaid, a consistent source of runs for Parkhead last season started brightly with 63 as they reached 142 at home to Hundall. Cox was Hundall’s best performer with 4-10 but the visitors batting failed to fire as 4-14 from I Davis helped Parkhead to skittle them for just 68.

An unbeaten 46 from Lay got former champions Stanton to 164-7 which proved to be enough against Collegiate IV as the Sheffield side struggled to 121-9 with Javed’s 60 the highlight. Stanton will consider 4-48 from Hadfield very important also in an incomplete win.  

Two games in Division 2 and it was a nightmare start for newly renamed Youlgreave Lodge whose bowlers Greengrass and Holdall had done the business early on with 5-31 and 5-23 respectively to limit Millhouses to a modest 75. 4-2 from Mumtaz was the catalyst as Lodge capitulated to 35 all out in response. Ridgeway enjoyed more success as 48 from Roberts and 40 from Keys saw them to a competitive 163-8 with Goodson taking four of those wickets for 57. Evan’s 4-10 was the pick of the Ridgeway bowlers as they removed Centralians for 91.

4-19 from Ferguson wasn’t enough to stop Baslow from bypassing Hallam’s 91 with six wickets intact in Division 3 where Millhouses II also managed an impressive win away at De La Salle. 4-32 from T Haywood helped to bowl out Millhouses for 115 but the Khan’s delivered the knockout blow to the home side as Rabnamaz took 4-13 and Iqra 4-27 subjecting De La Salle to 53 all out.

WPH kept up last year’s winning habit posting 114 against Sheffield Transport for whom Owens claimed 4-19. In a tense finish Transport’s run chase hit the breaks as the last wicket fell with just six needed for victory. No such problems for Walkley who posted the league’s highest total of 176-7 with a helpful 58 coming from Hudson. They then finished the job by dismissing Collegiate V for a nice round 100.

Only 195 runs to speak of in Division 4 where 5-8 from Rowney and 4-1 from Nobrega shattered Hundall II’s resolve as they were bowled out for just 35 which Hathersage II eased past only losing one wicket.More impressive figures of 4-7 from D Turner limited Dronfield Woodhouse to 61 which Whittington Wanderers also cruised past with 9 wickets intact.

In Division 5 young J Muir’s 5-22 helped to skittle Youlgreave Lodge II for 66, a target which Ashford II reached for the loss of just three. Chesterfield Barbarians made hard work of the 74 they were set to win against Stocksbridge III as they lost six wickets en route to a valuable 25 points. And it was a memorable league debut for Apperknowle as they started 2008 with a six wicket victory against Dronfield Sports Contact. Dronfield setting them 105 for victory which, despite 4-21 from S Frith the new boys negotiated safely.