Paul’s ton keeps up challenge

PAUL Borrington reached 1,000 Derbyshire Premier Division runs for the season and scored his 60th century for Ticknall as they kept up their title challenge with an emphatic 88-run win away to Chesterfield.

Borrington’s 102 from 119 balls and a 148-run second-wicket partnership with Alex Hughes, who made 64, pointed Ticknall towards 253-4 and Chesterfield were unable to threaten it.

They slipped to 40-6 as Greg Cork raced to 6-35 from 12 overs and although wicketkeeper David Hunt made 55 not out, Jack Gorbert (3-20) cleaned up the tail and Chesterfield were all out for 165 in 39.3 overs.

They are now in the second relegation place, with only Elvaston below them, after Swarkestone beat Spondon.

Andre Bradford scored 63, Ben Hutchinson 54, Jim Wilcox 39 and Tommy Sturgess 45 not out from 27 balls, with five sixes, as they reached 299-8.

Archie Harrison hit 93 in Spondon’s response but they fell well short on 207 all out.

Eckington moved further away from the relegation places by easing past relegated Elvaston, who were bowled out for 107, Stephen Ludlam taking 4-27 and Nathan Musselwhite and Cameron Gordon three wickets each.

The target was reached in only 16 overs for the loss of two wickets after Eckington skipper hit 39 of the first 44 runs from 18 balls with nine fours.

Tom Bullimore watched him get on with it and was 23 not out at the end.

Alvaston & Boulton won a close game at hiome to Marehay.

They were indebted to Garry Park, who made 74 from 125 balls, and Darryl Walker, who battled to 47 from 102 balls as they reached a competitive if hardly fearsome 211-7.

Adam Wheatcroft took a wicket with the third ball of Marehay’s reply but they edged closer to the target through Rob Peat (35) and David Buckley (56 from as many balls).

Wheatcroft returned to finish them off, taking three of the last four wickets as they were bowled out four short from the last ball of the innings.