WIRKSWORTH & MIDDLETON WIN THE BIG T20 FINALS DAY

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LGE PEAK MARQUEES JOHN ELSE T20 FINALS DAY
STAINSBY HALL, DUFFIELD, ELVASTON & WIRKSWORTH & MIDDLETON
20 AUGUST 2017 --- 10AM/1PM/3PM @ THE FIELD SHIPLEY HALL CC

PEAK MARQUEES T20 2017 WINNERS WIRKSWORTH & MIDDLETON CC

A powerful performance on the day from Wirksworth and Middleton [W&M] saw captain Ben Perry-Taylor lift the cup to scenes of delight after an enthralling finish against Elvaston.  Both sides had reached the final with crushing semi final displays but with Jake Harrold, 81, leading Elvaston's response to W&M's challenging target the trophy looked to be heading south of Derby.  That was until Jack Ritchie disturbed his timbers with the score on 125 and some tight bowling in the latter stages saw W&M win the final by 7 runs after a sterling effort from both sides.
With the weather forecast fair the option of visiting the exquisite Shipley Hall Cricket Club for the first time was undertaken after Saturday night checks to confirm the event was definitely being hosted at their Field venue. The vagaries of Sunday morning public transport from base saw a change in Ripley allow departure at just after 1030 in Heanor, a sharp walk to the edge of town and a pacey completion through the Nutbrook walk into Shipley Park soon had me arriving at this tucked away ground.  Upon arrival the first game was well under way and Duffield were batting against Elvaston with 9 wickets down the game looked a cert for the latter to snap up a final appearance, more of which later.

SHIPLEY HALL CC TODAYS FINAL HOSTS

Shipley Hall Cricket Club is situated in the Shipley Country Park which was the grounds of the Miller Mundy family and their former hall was surrounded by the grounds and lakes.  The family had risen to prominence with the ownership of many mines in the Shipley Collieries Company portfolio and with a keen interest in cricket the club was formed in 1899 with much interest shown from the area and the Miller Mundy's the club soon attracted a selection of top players.  Following the death of the squire the whole area was sold onto the colliery company and then the NCB in the 1970's the site was sold further to Derbyshire County Council who have now developed the park into its current format.  Part of the land was developed early on as Britannia Park a medium scale attempt at an Alton Towers type of attraction but then sold onto become the more famously named American Adventure Theme Park.  Sadly after varying attempts to re ignite this it closed in 2007 and the whole area is now fenced off and overgrown car parks pay homage to days of fun that many had experienced during the theme parks short time in existence.  The Miller Mundy's hall was also lost to subsidence following the years of mining although a lodge still stands now serving refreshments to the many walkers enjoying the area.

SHIPLEY HALL CC WITH PETER YOUNG ON THE HEAVY ROLLER

The cricket club was a former haystack field and after reclamation has seen much action some of the early pictures are very interesting showing little in the way of trees round part of the outfield, however today the whole ground is lined with enough trees to give an arborist a field day if that's not an oxymoron!  With a selection of seats under the shade of various branches the ground offers a great outing for serial circuit walkers with many paces to hover to watch the action, although the pavilion area is of course the main focus.  Two new apex roofed 2 storey additions for changing rooms have been added to the middle single level original building.  Inside it is a wood panelled affair with many interesting pictures from times gone by plus a bar, catering area and pool table, clearly the building has greeted many over the years and I'm sure would tell a story or two if it could.  Separately to the left hand side is a double decked standard building with grounds mans storage area at base level and above a smart electronic scoreboard with scorers room above.   So from the previous weeks of the Huddersfield League Cricket grounds and their expansive views today would offer up a complete contrast of an enclosed ground that I guess says English cricket all over it, a lovely setting.
So the first game was well under way and thanks to a cameo from James Hardwick at the end of the Duffield innings the managed to bat out their 20 overs and score 94 for 9.  For Elvaston Jonathon Ball took 5 for 7 in his 4 overs to assist proceedings for his batsman.  It was a relatively regulatory affair as 97 for 3 was reached with 5 overs to spare Jake Harrold top scoring with 29 ably assisted by Ben Wright with 25.  After a visit to the scoreboard to check in with the scorers and Chris Higginbottom from the league a thank you for your help today it was much appreciated.

W&M KEEPER MICHAEL JEFFERISS APPEALS FOR A LEG SIDE CATCH V STAINSBY HALL

During the second innings it was a pleasure to meet club man Peter Young who had found himself in the area in the early 1960's and was still here!  Shipley Cricket Club had become a love of his life, as was clear for the other volunteers here today, with an appearance on the heavy roller and other duties during the afternoon too.  Initially from the West County we did joke that I guess he would have nearly been accepted up here by now.  Great to meet you today thanks for your time and your kind gift of your centenary brochure, to the others from Shipley Hall his fellow assister in ground duties in the break between games whose name I didn't get and also the BBQ man and lady in the kitchen/bar area excellent full day hats off to you all clubs survive because of people like you.

YES IT REALLY WAS 1 FOR 4

The second game pitted W&M against Stainsby Hall the latter being neighbours from 'just down the road'.  It couldn't have gone much more wrong for the locals with what seemed a cavalier attitude of throw the bat at everything they were 1 for 4 in the 2nd over and 9 for 8 shortly afterwards.  With 9 extras in the total of 32 chipping in to help the total.  From the W&M point of view a devastating spell of bowling from Josh Pickering had seen home return 6 for 9 in his allotted 4 overs.  The reply was a straight forward affair with the runs knocked off in 3.2 overs to win by 10 wickets although even then the scorecard had a misbalanced feel to it with Ben Gartside hitting 28 to Michael Jefferies 1.

W&M JOSH PICKERING DISTURBS THE BAILS

During this game it was a pleasure to meet Steve a former Wirksworth resident now residing in Sheffield and it was great to catch up with all things sporting and local, hopefully you enjoyed your day and a victory in the end for your lads made the journey worthwhile.
The league officials now had a choice to make with a 4pm start for the final giving over 2 hours to wait the decision was made to bring the final forward to 3pm and following the toss we saw Wirksworth bat first and set a challenging score of 165 for 7.

EARLY ACTION FROM THE FINAL WITH ELVASTON BOWLING

Featuring in this total was Gartside with 56 from 26 balls including 8 fours and 3 maximums he was ably assisted by Joe Greenhalgh who fell just one short of his half century caught by Ben Wright off the bowling of David Jacobs.
The total looked a really good ask but after 10 overs Elvaston were 87 for 1 right up with the asking rate and with wickets in hand, you had to favour them.

JOE GREENHALGH ON HIS WAY TO 49 FOR W&M

The loss of Ben Wright and Mitchell Bradley took the score to 107 for 3 in the 14th over and it was looking a one batsman game with Jake Harrold going well and aided by being dropped on the boundary on 58 a lot rested with him.  Hero of the semi final Ritchie came up with the goods for W&M when he disturbed the stumps of Harrold it was 125 for 4 with a valiant 81 from the opener it was enough to secure him the man of the match award later.

JAKE HARROLD MAN OF THE MATCH FOR HIS 81 FOR ELVASTON

Some tight bowling from Perry-Taylor, Greenhalgh  and Ritchie added further pressure and the ask rate was above 10 now.  With 2 overs to go the score was 132 for 4 but even with the wickets in hand 34 to win was a big ask and Elvaston didn't have the big hitters able to respond but they made a valiant effort needing 19 off the last over the fell just 7 runs short on 158 for 7.
The presentation was a smart little affair brief and to the point with scorers, umpires, hosts and the runners up Elvaston thanked for their contribution to a good day and the latter to a close and entertaining final.  But now it was time to crown the 2017 T20 county league champions Wirksworth and Middleton Cricket Club and for former MCC player and League President Tony Pope to present the trophy to the victorious captain Ben Perry-Taylor.

WIRKSWORTH AND MIDDLETON 2017 T20 WINNERS

With time to spare a walk out towards the main Heanor Ilkeston road for a bus was gratefully stopped when a league official, sorry didn't get your name [I was bad at that today], very kindly gave me a lift to Heanor and with one change I was back at base for 7pm.
Enjoyable day out, well organised by Shipley Hall and the league officials with a cracking final too, well done all.