Matlock Cricket Club

matlock cricket club

Designed and created by
RobertsonMedia.co.uk

Reports from senior games, click on headlines

Win puts Matlock back in second
Saturday, 29 August, 2009

Matlock C.C 1st XI 171 for 8 (27 points)
Clifton C.C 1st XI 141 All Out (5 points)

In a week when most people thoughts have turned to educational grades, Matlock 1st XI certainly achieved their 'A' grade in the defeat of a stubborn Clifton side at Causeway Lane and in so doing claimed another vital 27 points towards their push for promotion from Division One of the County League.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat and on a slow wicket they found runs hard to get against the accurate visiting bowlers. Only opener Derek Randall (37) of the top order was prepared to dig in and patiently wait for the bad ball, until he was the third man out with the score on 81. Christoff Visser (17), Caleb Mierkalns (16) and Steve Pell (14) all got themselves in but then failed to capitalize and by so doing left Matlock struggling at 111 for 7 and well short of an acceptable score if they were going to win the game.

Enter the rearguard force once again as Martin Leatherday (21) and Jonathan Stapleton (18 not out) and Gareth Johnson (10 not out) eased them to respectability at 171 for 8 from their 50 overs. The successful Clifton bowlers on the day were C. Ogilvie (4 for 40), C Bassett (2 for 29) and W. Harvey (2 for 34).

The opening pace attack of Christoff Visser and Adam Burton has caused mayhem with many of their opponents this season, but both will be the first to admit that it was below their usual standard in this game as they returned figures of (2 for 43) and (1 for 34) respectively.

Skipper Pell knows however that he has a quartet of fine bowlers at Matlock and today it was George Moulds who stepped up to earn the accolade of 'Man of the Match'. On his introduction he took a wicket in his first over and then went onto mesmerize the visiting batsmen with his late away swing bowling, returning excellent figures of 5 for 29 from just 13 overs as Clifton were bowled out for 141 runs.

Credit must also go to support bowler Gareth Johnson in taking 2 for 30 as he claimed the wickets of the two Wilson brothers. M. Wilson batted 37 overs for the top score of 45, but only C. Bassett (25), C. Ogilvie (16) and P. Hort (12) gave any sort of support as they perished against the bowling of Moulds.

This win takes Matlock into second place only 11 points behind leaders Elvaston and with just 3 games left it promises to be a most exciting finish to the season, where at the moment promotion is a distinct possibility. The first of these 3 games takes Matlock down the A38 to Rolleston on Dove next Saturday in another crucial encounter. .

Any queries relating to senior teams we will endeavour to answer your queries quickly via e-mail seniorplayers@matlockcricketclub.com