Cutthorpe Cricket Club

Tini and Macca opened the bowling and were miserly with the first 4 overs being maidens, the first wicket fell to Macca in the 8th over with the score on just 8. Pratt and Mace soon realised that the pitch held no demons and started to break the shackles, it was another 12 overs before Knolwes had Mace caught by Womble for 40, 2 overs later Knowles then reoved Pratt for 41 well caught by Tim Barlow standing up at the stumps. The drinks break came at 25 overs with the visitors on 101-3. there was little indication of the carnage to come as the Alfreton batsmen were obviously invigorated by the refreshments as Gwatkin and Simpson enjoyed a stand of 155 in just 21 overs bringing the Alfreton overseas pro to the crease. He soon had his eye in making 40 from just 16 balls enabling Alfreton to close on 302-5 with Gwatkin 87 not out.

It had been a dissappointing 2nd half for the Home team as they allowed the batsmen to dominate, no bowler had managed to exert any pressure.

Womble and Bush opened the batting and Womble was unlucky to be out LBW pinned on the crease for 12, Bushy did well to pick out the fielder and was out caught for 6. Shabba, having done the hard work against the pro relaxed against the spinner and holed out to his 3rd delivery for a good looking 17. Tommo and Tini were in no mood to miss out on this track and quickly set about the run chase and at drinks were in the box seats with the score on 149-3. Unfortunately a late bout of cramp restricted Tini and he fell just short of a well deserved 100 on 93 LBW, a stand of 171 in just 23 overs. Tommo went on to reach his 100 but in the fading light was bowled by Alfreton's star man for a brillaint 104, the pro wrapped the innings up taking 3 wickets in 4 balls as the Cutthrope reply was brought to an abrupt halt with the score on 281.

Another case of so near yet so far, a superb run chase that kept everyone, including the Matlock CC and Eckington CC who had come to the mecca of cricket to watch the end of this game, on the edge of their seats to see if we could knck off a score of 300, a feat rarely achieved.

Next week the team to travel to Marehay and will again endeavour to give their all in the chase for the points that could keep them in Division 1.

Rob P
1st team Scribe