Title is in Sandiacre grasp with one to go
THE Beechwood Mazda Derbyshire Premier Division title is in Sandiacre Town’s hands, with only one match to go for the two remaining contenders.
They moved into pole position with a 43-run victory over Ockbrook & Borrowash at Longmoor Lane on Saturday.
A win against Denby next weekend will be enough to see Sandiacre take the title. Any slip and victory for Ockbrook against Chesterfield will see the trophy heading to Victoria Avenue.
After being put in, Sandiacre opener James Chapman left Sandiacre in charge with a 147-ball 101. Late runs from Connor Marshall (35) and Matt Kimmitt (23 not out) made their total a challenging 255-7.
Matt Newbold (3-62) reduced Ockbrook in reply to 42-2 but Josh Lacey (44) and Ethan Berlusconi (57) forged a third-wicket partnership of 87.
When John Jordison (2-36) removed both batsmen Ockbrook fell behind the pace. Jacob Conners hit 33 but Dan Wheeldon (2-41) and
Marshall (3-49) bowled the rest of the side out for 212.
Ticknall’s campaign ended with a win and though they sit on top of the table, there will be no title.
Rahib Ali scored 164 with two sixes and 24 fours in their 219-run thumping of Marehay. Will Hobson (62) and Greg Cork (46 from 16 balls) helped their side pile up 347-6, with only Lewis Palmer (3-89) making an impression with the ball.
Marehay were bowled out for 128 in reply with Matt Smyth (3-51) and Jack Gorbert (4-13) again among the wickets. Joe Wilson (2-26) tore through them inside 33 overs.
There were fireworks at Alvaston & Boulton, where Matt Sisson demolished Langley Mill with an innings of 213 off only 122 balls with 11 sixes and 25 fours. It was the highest individual innings in the Premier Division since Dan Birch’s unbeaten 224 in 2007.
Tom Knight added 103 and Ahmed Raza 44 as Alvaston & Boulton piled up 446-5 and though the Millers tried to fight fire with fire, it was a hopeless task.
Akhil Patel scored 35 and George Brandrick 63 but Steve Ottewell took 5-22 and Langley Mill were dismissed for 246.
Denby confirmed fourth place with a convincing 106-run win away to Eckington, leaving the North Derbyshire side with the threat of relegation still hanging over them.
They will go down if Chesterfield win their final match, against Ockbrook.
Nathan Musselwhite (3-56) led a
Denby dip to 127-8, Peter Burgoyne hitting 40, but Joe Wilson’s 46 not out guided them to 203-9.
James Parkin (4-33) and Ben Scott (3-35) made sure that was enough as Eckington were bowled out for 97.
Chesterfield kept their hopes alive by beating Spondon, even though Chris Windmill (5-20) restricted them to 179-9 batting first.
Alex Hibbert (27) and Reece Johnson (35) put on 59 for the fourth wicket.
Spondon crumbled to 138 all out in reply, despite an unbeaten 61 from Joe Ashdown. Harry Wilmott (3-42) and Marcus Hayes (3-17) saw off most of the rest between them.
Elvaston’s miserable season ended in a heavy defeat to Swarkestone, with Joe Priestley (3-26) and Lewis Hearne (4-8) bowling them out for 64.
Andre Bradford (23 not out) and Tom Hamilton (43 not out) completed a nine-wicket win in 11 overs.