PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS BEAT LEADERS TO GO TOP

PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS 138 FOR 1 DUFFIELD 3'S 136 FOR 9

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION 7 NORTH AT RUPERT ST

25 JUNE 2022 --- 1.30PM

MATCH WINNING 85* FOR JAMES ALDIS PILSLEY AND CLAY CROSS V DUFFIELD

Pilsley and Clay Cross secured a comprehensive nine wicket victory against league leaders Duffield and in the process sprung themselves to the top of the division seven north table.  After a tight bowling display that never let the visitors get away, with opening bowler Steve Gardener taking 3 for 25, it turned to the batting performance of James Aldis [85] who along with the stable support of Steve Wood took the Rupert Street side over the line with just twenty one and a half overs used.

A GREAT DAY FOR PILSLEY CAPTAIN TRISTAN BOWERS

A return to Pilsley really had to be top of the list with this enticing top of the table clash as visitors Duffield were in town or village more to the fact.  The weather apart from a breeze was according to the BBC forecast set fair with no rain in it.  The first thirty minutes so had seen me walk on through two showers until about ten minutes short of the ground the rain that had started as I entered Pilsley go all the more heavy just short of the ground so the handily placed tree was then used to try to retain some dryness.

BEN JOHNSON A DETERMINED PERFORMANCE FROM THE OPENER

Arrival at the ground saw a different day now with the clouds having passed over and the sun was out with Pilsley fielding after winning the toss.

The opening pair for Duffield Ben Johnson [17] and Phillip Tomlinson [19] were cautious in their approach to what appeared some uneven bounce with the odd ball rising sharply.  It was though Tomlinson who went first with the score on 32 caught in the slips by Ian Worthy off opening bowler Gardener.  The top order was affected badly by Gardener hen he sent back 3 and 4 Keith Blake [4] and Niall Watson [5], respectfully,  the former bowled and the latter caught by Steve Wood.

STEVE GARDENER OFF THE FLOOR 

By the second ball of the first over from Pete Lacey Duffield had been reduced to 50 for 4 when Shaun Bosworth was dismissed for a duck playing out at a wider delivery that Worthy held onto close in again.

This brought Giles Brown [67] to the crease and he would score just short of half of the visitors total with a sensible approach but certainly an ability to hit the bad ball.  The total at the half way stage was just 61 and Pilsley could oh but dream at this stage that they may be a favourable result against the leaders.

CAMERON LEE IN THE FIELD SOON TO TAKE A WICKET WITH HIS FIRST BALL

Opener Johnson had hung around with determination but when he felt the need to break out he lofted a delivery from Aldis skyward who followed through onto the side wickets to take the catch after a loud shout that it was his kept everybody else at a distance, with the score on 86 for 5.  Eight runs later Worthy took his third catch in the gully off the first ball from Cameron Lee to send back Denis Saunders [1].

PETE LACEY TAKES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS WICKET

Worthy would come on for a spell after his close in exploits and would take the wicket of Brown when he dislodged the bails for the eighth wicket to fall as Duffield struggled to 136 for 9 in their 40 overs.

The bowlers for Pilsley put in an impressive display with Gardener 3 for 26 topping the wicket takes alongside Worthy 2 for 12, Aldis 2 for 31 and a wicket each for Lee and Lacey.

PETE LACEY TAKES OFF

The tea interval walk took in the usual small amble nothing much different noted except for some distance weather that looked threatening something that in the Duffield innings we had avoided as some really heavy storms went down the A61 valley.  So much so that games at Ashover and Wingerworth this afternoon all ended up abandoned games.

GILES BROWN TOP SCORER FOR DUFFIELD

Back nicely in time for the restart and one again the opening bowlers were looking good in the form of Shaun Bosworth and Niall Watson who forced some playing and missing from the Pilsley openers. 

A solid base though was put in place by Pete Lacey [12] and Steve Wood [29*] who would carry his bat through the reply.

When Lacey fell caught by Tomlinson off Watson the question marks may have been bouncing around that this could be a tight game of course with Aldis coming to the crease you knew a lot would depend on his response.  Thankfully the Pilsley number 3 joined Wood in a cautious approach that would see runs coming but in a sensible manner looking for the gaps with some excellently placed shots through the cover fielders.

KYLE BUTTERWORTH WALKING IN

The harshest of the rain was now amassing somewhere in the distance near Crich and the biggest hope was that this front would take the same pathway as the previous three or so and as some small spots from the tail end of it drifted away the match and the Pilsley response had avoided what called off other games nearby after the downpour it unleashed on the grounds.

PETE LACEY OPENING FOR PILSEY

Slowly but slowly Aldis moved into fourth gear and Wood looked more confident in his shot making as the visitors tried seven bowlers to look for a breakthrough and a way back into this game.  It was not coming though as Aldis passed through his half century and was now into full mode finishing on 85 not out alongside Wood who hit the wining runs after the third ball of the twenty second over.

STEVE WOOD HITS OUT FOR PILSLEY

The bowling from Duffield saw a wide and varied effort to break the Pilsley resolve but in the end just Watson 1 for 23 in seven would return a wicket.  

THE RAIN SWEEPS DOWN THE VALLEY BUT ITS FINE AT RUPERT ST

A superb afternoon for Pilsley and Clay Cross with a comprehensive win that captain Tristan Bowers could have dreamt about before the game and with the weather playing games in the near distance a game that thankfully played to a conclusion even though that blustery wind was in evidence for much of the afternoon, so often the case at Rupert street.

ALDIS PREPARING FOR ANOTHER BIG HIT

The return to base started in a small shower but finished in bright sunshine and after watching a great effort like this today from Pilsley I must say there was a nice spring in the old bloggers step, till next time lads.

ALDIS SWEEPS