ALI BUILDS THE BASE FOR CLIFTON TO WIN AT CUTTHORPE

CUTTHORPE 135 ALL OUT V CLIFTON CC 229 FOR 5

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION 1 AT MAIN ROAD

26 JUNE 2021 --- 1230PM

FORMER ENGLAND TEST PLAYER USMAN AFZAAL 

The solid opening partnership from man of the match Mohsin Ali [56 and 3 for 26] and former England test cricketer Usman Afzaal [36] gave Clifton the solid foundations to build a total that Cutthorpe did not get close to and just before 7pm the 22 points were on their way back to south Derbyshire.

ANOTHER PICTURESQUE CRICKET GROUND HERE AT CUTTHORPE

Cutthorpe is a pretty village with a variety of striking buildings with the old butchers shop and former Post Office on the Main Road that pulls you through this village to the north west of Chesterfield.  Having watched football on the recreation ground in mid winter it was a pleasant surprise today on a cool summers afternoon to find the whole ground looking very idyllic with its surrounds adding to the feel of cricket in a village environment.  There are three pubs still on the B6050 that steers its way through the steady incline that offers views over the rolling hills towards Chesterfield, Holmebrook Valley Country Park and Linacre reservoir.  The hostelry entitled The Three Merry Lads sits snuggly at the side of the ground and the departure from the TM service 15 just shy of 1230 would see arrival pitch side in time for the first ball to be bowled 

HASHEN RAMANAYAKE OPENING THE BOWLING FOR CUTTHORPE

The ground is tree lined and I guess for a recreation facility run under the guises of Brampton Parish Council has a nice selection of bench seats for spectators too.  The main car park is behind the pub and with a gated entrance and two access breaks in the perimeter wall off Common Lane there are plenty of ways to pop into watch.  The changing rooms I believe are situated behind the clubs own smart and cosy bar with the pavilion type wooden building is mounted on a small hillock also consisting of scorers box and an electronic scoreboard.  The latter of which seems to have all the required information but in a non traditional order on the display.  It has to be said though it was kept excellently up to date as was the leagues live updates.

MOHSIN ALI CLIFTON TOP SCORER WITH THE QUAINT OLD PAVILION LOOKING ON

Around the ground there is a cabin with a couple of nets and a small selection of cricket ground stuff out for todays proceedings with to the top side the football pitch showing one set of posts left up and not interfering with the game while the others are removed.  Here again there are some nice views from the high point back over Barlow and Dronfield.

NIGEL KINGHAM TURNS HIS ARM OVER FOR THE HOME SIDE

To the game then and after winning the toss Cutthorpe invited Clifton in to bat.  The visitors were led out by former England player Usman Afzaal and Mohsin Ali an interesting looking partnership.  Its always great to see former county players never mind England internationals still playing the game and this was the case with the chance to see Afzaal who made three appearances for the three lions in 2001.  This included a half century [54] against the Australians at The Oval in the fifth test.

BILAL HUSSAIN LOOKED TO HIT BIG

Today would see a sharp start by the visitors before Cutthorpe started to restrict the openers and in fairness could have probably taken a couple of wickets here if they had seen a little more fortune fall their way.  But slowly Ali and Afzaal were building a valuable partnership and base to the Clifton innings.  It was Afzaal [36] who would be first out when Edward Barlow took the catch off the bowling of Liam Sadler in the 26th over with the score on 93.  As so often happens two wickets fell quickly and Ali [56] was out next over this time caught by Sadler off Andrew Knowles.  It had been an entertaining knock from the number one with eleven fours and one maximum in his total.

Alex Blake hit a quick fire 30 in just three balls more than his total before Ben Kingham snapped up the catch again off Knowles.  Josh Hewitt [46*] and big swinging Bilal Hussain [34*] put on 69 in a finale that really added some traction to the visitors innings.  This final onslaught set up by the solid start was though just as vital in putting pressure on the Cutthorpe reply.  When the pair came together towards the end of the over 42 the total was 162 and the strike rate increased as both players took the game to the Cutthorpe bowlers. 

For the home side two bowlers shared the wickets with Knowles 3 for 45 in 8overs and Sadler 2 for 43.

HOME CAPTAIN ANDREW THOMPSON DEFENDS

A short walk around the village taking in the views and scenery during the tea interval was soon over and the home sides reply would begin and was soon in difficulty when Edward Barlow was caught in the first ball of the second over for a duck with the score just at half a dozen runs.  By the end of the fourth over though the home side were scoring at just over five an over and maybe just maybe they could stay on track.  Sadly a steady fall of wickets with captain Andrew Thompson [13] trapped in front by Edward Wilson before Hashen Ramanayake failed to trouble the scorers it was 26 for 3 and an upward battle.  

USMAN AFZAAL LOOKING PRETTY RELAXED

David Bush [29] and Paul Burdett [31]  gave hope but it was a rebuild process and when Bush was run out it wasn't too long before Burdett fell off Wilson caught by Ali and at 85 for 5 the game had clearly tipped into the favour of Clifton.  Shaun Levy [13] and Liam Sadler [15] who remained undefeated offered some resistance but when Knowles [1] was bowled by Ali with the third ball of over 43 over the win was completed for Afzaal and his team.

BILAL HUSSAIN NOW FOR THE BOWLING

It was interesting to watch the bowling of Bilal Hussain and Mohsin Ali the latter finished with 3 for 26 to add to his excellent performance with the bat and the former with 1 for 31.  Edward Wilson opened the bowling for the visitors and after his dozen overs showed a excellent return of 3 for 41, Adam Leigh chipped in with 2 for 13 as Clifton took maximum points home.

First time watching cricket at Cuthopre and a very enjoyable visit at a pretty ground it was a superb away performance with the home side maybe just not receiving the little bit of fortune that may have made this game a little closer than the final outcome. 

MAN OF THE MATCH MOHSIN ALI TOP SCORE AND THREE WICKETS