Dunstall on top in relegation battle
DUNSTALL came out on top in the crucial Derbyshire County League Division One relegation battle with Lullington Park.
Paul Dawson won the toss at Deer Park, put the home side in and had to watch Matt Arnold and Jamie Benstead pile up 163 for the first wicket.
Benstead went first, for 87 from 110 balls with 10 fours before Callum Brodrick added a quick 25 and Reeve Evitts a quicker 21.
Arnold finally went for 83, in which he hit only two fours, from 138 balls with the score on 250-4 and Dunstall closed on 268-6, Dawson holding them back to an extent with 4-52 from 12 overs.
The target was a tall order, however, and Park were blown away for 93.
Tom Bunting, Dan Featherstone and Evitts took two wickets each and Oliver Roberts brought the innings to a swift conclusion with 4-9 from 3.5 overs.
The result drops Lullington into the relegation places, seven points behind Duffield, who have played a game fewer.
Duffield’s easing of their own relegation problems was at the expense of Rolleston’s promotion hopes.
Duffield posted 236-6 after choosing to bat, with Graham
Dent unusually expensive, taking 1-77 from 12 overs.
The early departures of Louis Burrows and Daniel Zaheer set Rolleston’s chase back and though Tom Liversage scored 45 in a third-wicket stand of 59 with Gareth Marshall, then Niall Dawkins (36) added 85 with Marhsall, Rolleston were chasing the required run rate.
Marshall went for 53 from 111 balls at 155-4 and no-one else could get set.
With opening bowlers Joe Wozniczka-wells (4-34) and Ben Blenkinsop (4-51) proving hard to get away, Rolleston were not bowled out but were 24 runs short when they closed on 212-9.
In Division Two, Trentside recorded their seventh win of the season, beating Belper Meadows by 20 runs but, 50 points adrift of safety with three games to play, it looks as if the 53-point penalty they took into the season will eventually ensure they are relegated.
Tutbury are closing in on the Division Three South title, as nearest challengers Mickleover have only one game left.
They were easy winners over Brailsford, racking up 276-5 before bowling Brailsford out for 150.