Belper Meadows CC

2008 Season

Belper Meadows First XI 179-8 All Out (27 points) versus
Quarndon Second XI 101 all out (5 points)
Quarndon 23rd August 2008

Belpers response to a disappointing result against Duffield was positive to say the least. Skipper Peter Brookes won the toss and elected to bat but the frailties of the top order were exposed as the score stuttered to 28-5 with M. Staves (3-33) and J. Acton (3-51) getting amongst the wickets early. James Cox (37) enjoyed a welcome return to form when his side needed it most and he found an able ally in Thomas Roe (61*) who batted with maturity beyond his years to guide the meadows to a respectable score. When Cox eventually fell trying to push on the score Asad Ali (23) strode to the crease and hit two huge sixes in a cameo which elevated the final score to
179-8 off 46 overs. The Quarndon reply was hampered by a devastating spell of fast bowling from the Pakistani professional Asad Ali (6-31) to take his season’s tally to 87 wickets in league and cup. R. Agling (33) and C. Sanders (18) dug in but the meadows support bowling was also up to the task. Craig Lynch (2-28) the giant of a bowler managing to extract pace and bounce and S. Mohammed wiled his way through 13 overs for only 19 runs. The result was that Quarndon were bowled out for 101 in 43 overs. With Clay Cross slipping up the gap closes to around the fifty point mark at the top, Meadows can hope for similar results next week which could yet take the title decider to the meeting between the two sides on September 7th.

Belper Meadows Second XI 126-3 (22 points) versus Shipley Hall Second XI
125 all out (3 points) Christchurch meadow 23rd August 2008

Belper won the toss and elected to field and opening bowlers B. Carnelley (1-11) and skipper Rob Borland (3-25) made early inroads into the Shipley batting line up. R. Essex (26) and M. Chapman (15) got to grips with the conditions and seemed to be forming an effective partnership, but the wickets continued to tumble as Simon Hunt (3-33) and Ian Broom (2-22) both showed good form with the ball. The Shipley innings subsided to 125 all out in 42 overs. That left the Belper batsmen 50 overs to knock off the required runs. Michael Cox (32) dug his heels in and looked prepared to use every ball of the 300 available in an obdurate innings in the mould of Geoffrey Boycott. Simon Hunt (39) brought a touch of panache with some crunching cover drives and Ian Broom (27*) moosed Belper to the victory target with time to spare.

Belper Meadows Third XI 161-9 (27 points) versus
Belper Amateurs Second XI 156 all out (7 points)
the Packhorse ground Alderwasley 23rd August 2008

The third team completed a remarkable day for the club by claiming the bragging rights in this local derby which provided a nail biting finish. Amateurs won the toss and elected to field. Meadows opening batsman Ashley Spendlove (13) played a lovely on drive before nicking up to D. Griffiths (2-25). This brought P. Nightingale (31) to the crease to bat on his former stomping ground and he found able support from G. Cowburn (12) and A. Sherwood (16). Ben Mills (21) provided useful middle order runs as Rich Deeming (3-51) continued to chip away with the wickets. With a flurry of late order runs from J. Borland and F. Watson the meadows managed to post a competitive score at 161-9. The Amateurs response got off to a flier with the explosive Roy Peat (15) crashing boundaries notably a square cut which fizzed to the boundary before becoming the first wicket next ball. Dave Walter (16) feeling his way into form and A. Boucher (12) propelled the score to the 50 mark before the latter was bowled by a vicious in-swinger from Joe Slater (1-9). A whirlwind 19 from Tom Allen included two sixes and with the score at 75-3 at the halfway point things seemed to be set in the amateurs favour. However a remarkable spell of spin bowling from Jon Borland (8-43) turned the match on it’s head. As last man Mark Green (2*) limped to the crease Amateurs still required 34 runs for victory. Jamie Deeming (48) batted with flare and daring to bring the match to within one mighty blow for victory and seeing glory was clean bowled by Jon Borland trying to land one in the Bear inn car park. Victory by the narrow margin of 5 runs a just reward for a good team performance.