SMOOTH FINAL WIN FOR ELVASTON

LANGLEY MILL UTD 153 ELVASTON 159 FOR 5
MARSTON'S SMOOTH TROPHY FINAL AT STAINSBY HALL CC
28 AUGUST 2017 --- 11.30PM

NICK BRIARS ON HIS WAY TO A MAN OF THE MATCH PERFORMANCE

A man of the match winning performance from opener Nick Briars, 56, saw Elvaston to victory over their division 2 challengers Langley Mill Utd who had earlier posted 153 all out.  The 'Mill' had been in trouble early on at 2 for 2 but Joshua Lacey remained resolute for his 37 and a late flurry from Jack Scott, 27, saw them reach a total that for a long time looked a distant hope.  It really wasn't enough and after a blistering start from Simon Cusden, 33, the show was set up for Briars contribution to see the silverware visiting the Elvaston trophy cabinet.

BANK HOLIDAY CRICKET IN FINE WEATHER

Bank Holiday Monday and a red hot day, hardly a cloud in the sky and no threat of rain what was going on?  An early start from base again with a change at Ripley onto a quiet Heanor and a short connecting service to Smalley home of Stainsby Hall Cricket Club.  On previous walking expeditions around the locality I had completed a circuit of this well appointed ground and always looked at a visit and today like last weeks trip to the nearby Shipley Hall CC the opportunity arose from this Marston's Smooth Trophy final.

STAINSBY HALL CC SET FAIR TO HOST TODAYS FINAL

Arrival at the ground 15 minutes before the start allowed enough time to catch up with the scorers and Chris from the league and by now there was a healthy crowd gathering around the boundary for the encounter with local side Langley Mill having a majority of the support.  Having approached the ground by St Johns Rd entry was by the pavilion and an impressive affair it is with changing rooms and scorers box on the top of this double storey building with below a smart bar area which also offers a comfortable view of on the field proceedings for the colder days.  To the side is the umpires changing rooms going around to the right a few properties offer a view of the ground and out into the countryside and I guess Holbrook on the hills beyond.  Behind the bowlers arm is a tennis court and bowls club before we come around the expansive viewing boundary just the sort of sight that makes cricket a pleasure to watch.  Then heading back towards the business end we have the new Stainsby House/Hall over the boundary edge.  Just behind this was the former Stainsby House from which of course the club takes its name following the house falling into disrepair it was knocked down in 1974.  The new build is a Spanish style sprawling building with not a single corner in the build it was originally built for Robert Morley of Alida Packaging, Heanor.  When a few years later it was put up for sale the asking price was £450,000 a substantial ask in the 70's allegedly viewing interest came from Cilla Black and my favourite Telly Savalas the laconic singer of 'if' I say singing because take a look he just speaks all the way through, but of course famous for his portrayal of TV cop Kojak, "who loves ya baby"?

JOSH LACEY SEND ONE OF INTO THE VIEWS FOR LANGLEY MILL

During the early part of the day it was good to catch up with League Chariman David Allsopp and my chauffer of last week Michael thanks for the welcome again and also time to talk sport with John Whitaker from Stainsby Hall CC who I had also met last week, so once again a really friendly greeting at this final, thank you.

BATSMANS VIEW

The coin toss was won by Langley Mill and they elected to bat it looked a challenging decision and when they were 0 for 1 and then 2 for 2 by the second over and more worryingly 31 for 3 not long after it was not looking good.  Thankfully though Lacey [J] steadied the ship from his opening berth with 37 from 69 balls and although it was now slow going for Langley Mill they needed to hold the innings together.

LANCE HUMPHREY LANGLEY MILL UTD

He was joined in his endeavour by South African overseas player Lance Humphrey who was out for 21 caught and bowled by Harry Allen just as the tempo was being increased.  With just 72 on the board things were looking ominous and the target of setting a challenge was far away but the tail wagged with valuable contributions from Daniel Hanson, 14, Mathew Heafield, 15, Simon Lacey, 17, and a lovely cameo from Jack Scott of 27 including 3 fours and one maximum that saw Langley Mill post 153 all out with 22 balls still left.

HUMPHREY CAUGHT AND BOWLED HARRY ALLEN

The total looked probably 50 runs short of a par score but credit to Langley Mill they stuck at it and in the late order posted a total that looked a long way off for most of the innings.  For Elvaston Allen took 4 for 28 from his 10 overs and South African David Jacobs returned 3 for 21.

DAVID JACOBS 3 FOR 21 FOR ELVASTON

Having completed a few circuits of the ground I decided to have a small amble around the village in the break between innings and visit the local shop.  In this task I had not been to observant upon entering Smalley earlier in the day as the local Premier was now permanently closed!  So back to the pavilion for more hoppers food, crisps and pop.  Here it has to be said although Stainsby Hall were fine hosts they missed a treat by not selling food or having a BBQ set up with a large crowd this was a revenue stream the club would have undoubtedly benefited from.

A MIGHTY STRIKE FROM CUSDEN

So to Elvaston's reply and as ever a bludgeoning start from Cusden who hit 33 from 19 balls with 4 fours and 2 maximums it was just the start Langley Mill didn't want but how it put Elvaston on their way.  By the time this entertainment was over in the fourth over the score was 34 for 1 with Cusden contributing all bar one of the runs!  Proceedings slowed down considerably now but for the Mill this was all about bowling out their challengers and with a solid effort from Briars and his partner Elliott Lawley, 26, the score had reached 101 before the latter fell for the second wicket.  With Ben Wright third out when the score was 135 a couple of late wickets saw Elvaston finish with 5 down for 159 with Fraser Smith finishing proceedings with a boundary clearing effort to claim the trophy.  In the bowling stakes Josh Lacey returned 3 for 27 which added to his 37 saw him contribute well to Langley Mill's performance.

ELVASTON CC MARSTONS SMOOTH TROPHY WINNERS 2017

All that remained was for Martin Alssopp to invite Sean Collins from Marstons to present the Trophy to Elvaston Cricket Club and the silverware was held aloft again by a celebrating team something that has been done since its inauguration in 1903.
Return journey all ran smoothly, rather aptly today, and base was arrived at around 7pm from an enjoyable day out in Smalley and Stainsby Hall Cricket Club.