BODILL TON BLASTS DENBY TO VICTORY

ASHOVER BARBARIANS CC 249 FOR 7 DENBY CC 2'S 258 FOR 5

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION 3 NORTH AT MILKEN LANE

24 JULY 2021 --- 1PM

MAN OF THE MATCH JAMES BODILL 

A match winning century from James Bodill [114] alongside two wickets in his ten over spell was enough to see off the home side who pushed the result a lot closer than it looked at the half way stage of their reply.  

The day provided a warm but thankfully cooler one off the heady temperatures of the last week so what could be better than the country village setting of Milken Lane in Ashover with its church bells ringing out for another big match of the day.  As I arrived after the one hour walk which regular readers will know offers such great views the cars bedecked with ribbons were arriving into the village for the celebrants.  The alpacas were nicely shorn for the summer but for those of you who care they still were having no conversation with this sport hopper, a quite aloof animal.

IAN COOKE BOWLS JOSH TORR

The other big battle of the day was here on the cricket ground and with Ashover not looking as dominant as last season in the results stakes and Denby just below mid way it should be a well matched game for my first viewing this season of The Barbarians.  Having covered the lovely village and historical elements on previous visits today is not the time to re engage but there are plenty and its well worth visiting for a stroll around.

JAKE SMITH BUILDING HIS INNINGS

Ashover won the toss and sent Denby into bat and when Josh Torr [5] was out bowled by Ian Cooke in the first ball of the second over it looked at good choice.  Ten overs later it was 61 for 3 with Stephen Payne [33] lbw to Jonathan Taylour after a smart knock that kept the runs flowing and Jake Smith [20] who was caught behind by Russ Cooke off Alex Fowkes.  All this though had brought together Bodill and George Wilson [51*] who proceeded to put on a remarkable 184 for the fourth wicket.  

GEORGE WILSON HALF CENTURY FOR DENBY CC

Early build up of his innings saw me keep seeing references to Geoff Boycott although I guess that was probably to do with his dark blue cap wearing style because his scoring rate was certainly more affluent as he hit 16 fours and four maximums from his 104 deliveries.  It was a well measured performance that accelerated away at just the right time.  As the close of innings came he was striking well but found Alex Flint who took the catch off the bowling of an impressive Alex Fowkes.  The moment that could have changed the afternoon though was a turned down lbw decision early on, off Fowkes, which looked a clear cut decision but the umpire thought otherwise and Bodill went on to confidently stride on to those three figures.

JONATHAN TAYLOUR ASHOVER BARBARIANS CC

Brandon Bullock [7] supported the final overs alongside Billy Askey [2*] around all this George Wilson went to his half century in the final over but the total of 258 would be a stern challenge for the home side.

BODILL HITS OUT ON HIS WAY TO A CENTURY

For the bowling side of the half a dozen bowlers used five chipped in with one wicket each but overall this was a big score with runs being hard to hold up for too long.

The tea interval was spent close by with no village wandering today and upon return thoughts of the reply went very much towards captain, wicketkeeper and opening bat Russ Cooke needing to hit big and bat long certainly over a century for the home side to get over the mark, as witnessed in the past this is most definitely in his reach.

AFTER HIS DISMISSAL FIRST THINGS FIRST WATER FOR BODILL

The reply got off to a good start as Cooke [54] dispatched two first over deliveries for boundaries but when William Saxton and Flint fell for ducks in the next over it was looking precarious at 8 for 2.  Fowkes [19] who had bowled encouragingly come in at number four and smoothly kept the scoreboard moving along as Cooke fired big.  The game didn't needed the captains dismissal because he was looking good and Denby knew he was the danger man to their target but in the twelfth that's what happened caught by Askey behind the stumps off the bowling of Jamie Kelly.  His knock though had including 11 fours and 1 maximum in 40 balls and the plus sign was that the run rate was being well achieved however there were now three wickets down with the total on 84.

RUSS COOKE WATCHES THE BALL

At 104 for 5 with Fowkes dismissed and Alex Lawson [7] both bowled by Wilson the target looked a long way off on some distant horizon.  The ship though was steadied by Ben Roche [38] and Ian Miller [83*] who made a sterling effort to get Ashover close to getting over the line.  But it would be Bodill who would deny the home side again when Roche was caught by Askey off his bowling and then David Atkin [6] who was caught by Liam Foster to provide the century maker with two wickets.  Chris Dent [11] chipped in a valiant effort at the end though Ashover came up nine runs adrift.

JAMIE KELLY FREE FLOWING DELIVERY FOR DENBY CC