COOKE SERVES UP ASHOVER VICTORY

ASHOVER BARBARIANS 116 FOR 5 CHESTERFIELD 2'S 112 FOR 8

DCCL DIV 3 NN @ MILKEN LANE

25 JULY 2020 --- 1PM

THE CLASSIC VILLAGE CRICKET SCENE WITH COVERS ON HAND JUST IN CASE

Ashover secured their first win of the truncated season when wicket keeper captain Russell Cooke hit an attacking 67 to lay the foundations for this success even allowing for a mid innings wobble the Barbaraians were seen over the line by Ben Roche [22].  Chesterfield had earlier set a low total that would require them to take all the home sides wickets for them to gain victory, with Marcus Hayes showing strongly with the bat and the ball.

MARCUS HAYES 31 FOR CHESTERFIELD 

Why change a good thing, well that was part the reason for a re visit to Ashover after the last trip to Milken Lane two weeks ago.  So setting off slightly later the attractive walk soon found the country lanes offering up what appeared like more full verges with an array of wildflowers before the strenuous climb to the top of Milken Lane which descends with gusto into the east side of the village and an immediate view of the cricket ground.  The family of alpacas were grazing away and showed little interest in communication even after a variety of animal noises were made in their direction still this is a beautiful approach to the village and on the latter stages I noticed a small post box nestling into a stone wall and gave myself a note to take a picture on the return leg.

JON BRANSON FLYING IN FOR ASHOVER

The players were just coming out and it would appear Chesterfield had been invited to set the total to chase and they set off well before losing their first wicket at 41 when Sam Fawcett was caught and bowled by Jon Branson.  The following overs provided a procession of wickets at regular intervals and when opener Marcus Hayes [31] fell caught by Jonathan Taylour of a little bit of magic from Paul Daniels you feared for a sub one hundred total.  But Kieran Garside put some momentum into the innings with 40 and allowed Chesterfield to get into three figures.  It would appear to be a 'slowies' wicket and with John Green returning 2 for 17 in ten overs the brakes were put on Ben Roche chipped in with 2 for 21 and there was a wicket apiece for Daniels, Branson and Taylor.

JOHN GREEN ECONOMICAL WITH A BRACE OF WICKETS

As the inning's had developed the parish grounds had got busier with a few spectators from Chesterfield, dog walkers and then just before the interval Ashover Fc and manager Don Carline came along to train pre season.  This took up one side of the ground and in current climate I moved around and then went off on a tour of the village during the break.  With rain having been threatened by the forecasters it was a pleasure to have seen non of the wet stuff and a small tour of the Ashover showed up the beauty of this place its buildings and lanes.

SOME FIRST INNINGS JUGGLING FROM THE UMPIRE

Arriving back at the ground I decided to take up a spectating boundary position at mid off, to the right handed batsman and fluctuate to the Parish Hall as a few darker clouds veered over the outfield.

KIERON GARSIDE GETS WELL FORWARD

Ashover would start their reply with real purpose with Cooke swatting the ball to all corners and fellow opener Jack Fletcher offering a supportive role the home reply a had reached 78 before the loss of the first wicket when the latter came down the wicket something Hayes and was stumped for half a dozen off of 40 balls.  A mini collapse occurred reducing the Barbarians to 88 for 5 when Cooke was out bowled by Joel Moore for 67 off 70 deliveries.  Just before Cooke was out we had seen a frustrating rain delay of about five minutes in which by the time the covers were in place the rain cloud had passed over something that would have seemed likely viewing by their movements, still its one of the quirks of cricket.

ASHOVER CAPTAIN AND TOP SCORER COOKE IN HIS OTHER ROLE TAKING A DELIVERY STOOD UP

Roche [B] came in and steadied the ship with a four to win it in 29.5 overs Ashover gained a failry comfortable victory after their mid innings wobble again all induced by some good slow bowling with Hayes adding to his batting contribution with 3 for 30 in 9 overs and a superb effort of 2 for 11 in seven overs from Joel Moore.

UMPIRES STEPHEN WILLISON AND KEVIN GODFREY DISCUSS THINGS NUMERICAL

Ashover had bagged the 22 points and now have a win, loss and a draw from their opening games and with the visit next week of table toppers Holmesfield to Milken Lane it should be a mouth watering encounter with the weather set fair.

COUNTRY POST BOX IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

Milken Lane and its ascent awaited and with a sub hour return to base, 58 minutes to be precise, the now threatening rumbles of thunder held off long enough for a dry return and oh yes I did remember that post box.