Matlock Cricket Club

matlock cricket club

Designed and created by
RobertsonMedia.co.uk

Reports from senior games, click on headlines

1st XI clinch promotion with win at Denby
Saturday, 12 September, 2009

Denby C.C 1st XI 181 All Out (5 points)
Matlock C.C 1st XI 183 for 4 (22 points)

Matlock deservedly secured their place in the County Premier League next season with an impressive and comfortable win over a strong Denby side at the Copper Yard on Saturday and in so doing reached the pinnacle of their ambitions at the same time as recording their eleventh win of breathtaking season.

Winning the toss and electing to take first knock, the home side were never allowed to settle against the quintet of fine Matlock bowlers and although Joe Greenhalgh (29), Stuart Poplar (19), Peter Burgoyne (16), Peter Furstenberg (15), Ben Perry-Taylor (13) and Neil Sparham (12) all got into double figures, their contributions proved insufficient as the game progressed.

With the score on 143 for 8 it then took a flamboyant knock by number 10 batsman Ahtefham Yaqoob as he flung the bat to good effect in scoring 30 runs before being caught on the boundary by Steve Pell to end their innings on a total score of 181 in 49 overs. Adam Burton (3 for 39) and Gareth Johnson (3 for 34) were the outstanding bowlers, well supported by George Moulds (2 for 51), Eddie Lowe (1 for 14) and an unusually quieter performance from Christoff Visser who took just 1 for 38 from his 15 overs, but on a very good batting wicket the final total was way below the expectations of the Denby side and where full credit must go to the Matlock bowlers who bowled superbly.

The visitors reply started well with Derek Randall and Christoff Visser looking good until Randall edged one to the keeper for 14 with the score on 37 and when George Moulds and Caleb Mierkalns were spun out for very little, it left Matlock on 61 for 3 and the Denby tails well and truly up.

Not for the first time this season it needed the Matlock middle order to come to the rescue and a stand of 59 between Visser and Adam Burton (16) took the score past the psychological 100 mark before Burton was caught in the slips off the bowling of Steve Bullock. Because Visser had a quiet day with the ball, there was a steely determination to do well with the bat and together with Jonathan Stapleton he shared in a match-winning unbroken stand of 63 to take Matlock to a comfortable victory.

Man of the Match Visser finished on a magnificent 94 not out with Stapleton batting solidly on 30 not out. For Denby Furstenberg, Sparham, Greenhalgh and Bullock all took 1 wicket each.

This was the first time that Matlock have reached the dizzy heights of playing in a Premier League and in so doing have brought a sporting glory to the town, but before preparations begin for next season there remains the final match of the 2009 season against Ticknall at Causeway Lane on Sunday and whatever the result there will be a great celebration to bring the curtain down on a quite a phenomenal season.

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