Cutthorpe reach summit with ease as Clifton beaten

CUTTHORPE are the new Learn UK Ltd Division One leaders following a comfortable sevenwicket win against Clifton at Chapel Lane.

Saqib Hussain (4-29) engineered a poor Clifton start and the home side limped to 75-5 in difficult conditions despite the best efforts of Tom Hilton (29) and Stuart Blake (42).

Jack Barber (39) and Atta Ur Rehman (57) lifted the innings in fine style but Jacob DeavinBaker (2-37) stole in and Clifton were left to settle for a below-par 208-8.

Cutthorpe replied strongly thanks to Ben Kingham (51) and the prolific Hashen Ramanayake (72) and the result was never really in doubt.

Andrew Williamson (2-41) collected a brace but Ed Barlow (29 not out) joined the everpresent Ramanayake and Cutthorpe were well ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis target on 190-3 after 29.2 overs when rain finally halted play.

A colossal innings of 181 not out from Richard Green paved the way for an easy Rolleston win at the expense of Morton Colliery.

Morton won the toss and fielded and Louis Burrows was an early casualty but Gareth Marshall (105 not out) and Sam Bates (58) repaired the damage with a sprightly stand of 93 for the second wicket.

Tom Liversage fell cheaply to leave the innings on 125-3 but Green arrived and Rolleston took charge.

Marshall (15 fours) was as solid as ever but his effort was eclipsed by Green who plundered 15 sixes and 17 fours from only 80 deliveries and Rolleston reached a mammoth 363-3.

With a mountain to climb Morton began well enough after the break through Blair Matthews (30) and Alex Eyre (74) but from 91-0 they slipped to 142-8 with Daryn Smit (4-49) and Ben Liversage (3-16) confirming Rolleston’s superiority.

Jack Stone (29) and Brad Clarke (20) improved matters late on but the home side fell well short on 203.

Dunstall slipped two places to third after their match at the Deer Park against Ilkeston Rutland was ruined by the weather. Dunstall slipped to 4-2 after being put into bat but a superb innings of 111 from skipper Callum Brodrick (two sixes, 14 fours) improved matters, although Rob Green (2-33) and Franklin Henshaw (2-42) continued to cause problems and at 80-5 there was still much to be done.

Salvation came in the shape of Michael Graves (74), who joined Brodrick in a partnership of 151 for the sixth wicket and Dunstall posted a satisfactory 242-8 off 44 overs.

Ilkeston had reached 72-2 off 11.5 overs in response but play was halted by rain with opener Tom Brandrick unbeaten on 34.

Bottom of the table Elvaston continue to struggle, slipping to their ninth straight defeat.

South Wingfield were the visitors and they came away with a six-wicket win after dismissing their hosts for a lowly 129.

Tony Palladino (3-16) was instrumental in reducing Elvaston to 45-5, although they bounced back a little through the efforts of Shahid Khan (33) and Andrew Wells (26).

But the recovery was shortlived.

Andrew Wilson (2-22) and Sarah Glenn (3-17) were on target as the hosts collapsed again from 83-5.

Rain reduced South Wingfield’s target to 118 but they began nervously and dipped to 13-2.

Gareth Lonie (73 not out) and Wilson (31) restored the advantage with a stand of 86 for the third wicket and the visitors cruised home in the 29th over.

There were four half-centuries for Chesterfield at Eyes Meadow, where the visitors posted a massive 325-6 against hosts Duffield.

Rain severely disrupted Duffield’s reply and when play was finally halted, the home side were 30 runs short of a revised target of 137 from 23.1 overs.

Harry Wilmott (55), Alex Hibbert (51), Luke Westwell (56) and Callum Hiron (52 not out) all prospered, as did a belligerent Reece Johnson (40 of 22 balls), as Chesterfield took control. Duffield were short on 106-2. Wirksworth & Middleton picked up only their second win of the season, a Duckworth-Lewis victory by five wickets at the expense of Sawley, who posted 220-9. Wirksworth were ahead of the game on 175-5 after 38 overs when rain finally ended play.