ALFRETON PROGRESS TO T20 FINALS

PREMIER T20 GROUP A FINALS @ THE IMPACT OVAL ALFRETON CC
ALFRETON V DUNSTALL, DUNSTALL V ROLLESTON & ALFRETON V ROLLESTON
25 MAY 2015 11AM/2PM AND 5PM

THE IMPACT OVAL

Sunny days freshly cut grass English cricket well most of this was true today apart from the sunny day as top coat was donned for this visit to the Impact Oval, romantically named.
Cricket used to be my first sport and after a few trips to the rugby league over the early summer months today was a choice of some horse racing at Leicester or a local hop to Alfreton Park over looked by the commanding Alfreton Hall and just a short trip from base for the blog.  Having had encouraging signals from Mark and Brian Thorpe of Alfreton Town FC's programme and badge shop I decided to take the blog to a tournament that should have also featured Elvaston and Matlock but when they pulled out Rolleston were diverted from the other group final at Chesterfield to make this a round robin affair with original teams Alfreton and Dunstall playing.
So before the cricket a little about the setting having secured some tucker from the big T's the approach to the ground down a narrow lane that bypasses the parish church also passed the leisure centre, many county council establishments and the imposing Alfreton Hall. 

ITS CUTE AND QUIRKY!

Arriving at the ground you realise what a nice setting the club are in with the ground surrounded by picket fencing and two trees have made the way inside but to the exterior of the boundary rope the far side behind the bowlers arm sees the tree and side screen squeeze the boundary rope around them.  The club house and pavilion has seen some major change in the last two years with the old changing rooms become the refurbished club house, available for hire I'm told, hosting a bar and snack area too which is serving hot cobs fresh from the external barbecue.

CLUBHOUSE FACILITES

The approach lobby is neat and tidy and houses new toilets.  The additional building to the side is new and houses modern changing rooms with a scorers room to the far end.  Slightly detached is the grounds mans store with on the front of this building a small but functional modern electronic scoreboard to keep us up to speed with proceedings.  The Impact Oval has adopted its title thanks to clear sponsorship from The Impact Group which forms the companies of Wayne Bradley also of course the Chairman of Alfreton Town FC and with sponsorship on kits its clear of the companies support for local sport.  Alfreton Cricket Club are also well know for producing a programme for £1 for their first team and second X1 games and thankfully Brian Thorpe secured me a copy of Saturdays 'Malterser' named after the clubs badge formed of the Maltese Cross.  Todays encounters were spent in the company of Brian and Mark and it made for a pleasant day in unfamiliar surroundings for me.

STEAMING IN FROM THE WATCHORN END

The first game was as good as any game I have witnessed at local level and some county games with a massive score of 220 for 6 amassed by the home side against Dunstall with Elliot Savidge scoring a remarkable 86 off of 45 balls with 6 4's and 7 6's, plus bowling figures of 4 for 47.

ALFRETON POST 220 FOR 9 TIME FOR DINNER GUYS!

It seemed a hard task but Rolleston were storming to their target when star batsman Andy Malkin was bowled around his legs but having secured a wonderfully bludgeoned 98 off 51 ball including 8 4's and 7 6's.  His departure slightly derailed Rolleston and they finished on 219 for 9 leaving Alfreton the victors by 1 run.  A remarkable game!!

BOWLED HIM!

The second match saw the losers stop on against Rolleston and this was a much more subdued game with Dunstall batting first and posting 142 for 7 before Rolleston secured 143 for 3 in the 19th over.
The final match saw the scored go a little lower with Rolleston batting first and being reduced to what looked a low score a third of a way through their innings before a late rally saw them finish on 106 for 8.  Alfreton had a few wobbles but batted sensibly to secure a victory with a 4 off the last ball of the 19th over to secure a finals day trip to be played at nearby Denby.
A pleasant day in attractive surroundings with a club who have some nice facilities the blog looks forward to a re visit during the summer for a hopefully warmer afternoon of cricket.

POPPY HELPS OUT WITH PITCH MAINTENANCE