Mehran hits ton and Moore is Merrier in Clifton win
CLIFTON pulled off a big run chase to ease their relegation worries a little in Derbyshire County League Division One.
There seems to be no in-between for the Chapel Lane first team this season, with either a collapse or a fine batting display.
They won the toss at home to Sawley, chose to field and saw Harry Moore take a wicket with the third ball.
However, there was no further success until Sawley had 86 on the board as Tom Beresford hammered 78 from 35 balls before Moore had him caught behind.
Sawley then reached 148-2 before Clifton began to haul things back.
Muhammad Atif scored 55 not out for the visitors but with Craig Williamson taking 3-52 and Mehran Ibrahim 2-46, the innings closed on 268-8.
That was a tall order and a taller one still at 40-3 but then
Ibrahim and Moore embarked on a stunning partnership of 206 for the fourth wicket, tearing the game from Sawley’s grasp.
By the time Ibrahim was out, for a brilliant 131 from 108 balls, with 123 fours and two sixes, only 23 more were needed.
There was a brief panic as Atta Ur Rehman, Alex Blake and Williamson all departed for one, the last two run out, but Paul Allen and Moore scored 10 each of what was still needed and Moore ended on 89 not out from 114 balls, the three-wicket win achieved with nine balls to spare.
Clifton seconds remain in relegation bother in Division Six South.
They were set 218-9 by Sandiacre Town seconds but were shot out for 123, Stuart Blake top-scoring with 24.
The thirds had a stunning win over Rolleston fourths in Division Nine South West.
They were potentially in trouble at 57-4 before Jessica Bakewell smashed 94 from 64 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes, to carry them to 184-7.
Rolleston’s reply fell 31 short, with James Smith, Marcus Caton and Chris Collins taking two wickets each and Ben King and Bakewell one each.
ASHBOURNE’S fourth win in a row has ensured they will still be in Division Six South next season.
Up against Swarkestone thirds, who sit a place below them in the table, they chose to field and there was an early wicket each for Dazz Bilan and Sahir Alam.
Ben Whadcoat, on the way to his first 50 for Swarkestone, and Ben Flower (32) then held Ashbourne up with a partnership of 64, aided by some dropped catches.
Andy Hill then took a hand and bowled Whadcoat for 50, going on to take 5-25 in a decisive 6.4 over spell.
There was also a maiden first-team wicket for Oscar Bateman as Swarkestone were bowled out for 177 in 34.4 overs.
Ashbourne’s reply did not start well, as Muhammad Khan was bowled by the first ball of the innings.
Aris Alam, for 13, and Mohammed Haroon, for four, soon followed and Ashbourne were struggling at 27-3.
Tom Jordan and Shahbaz Singh Gill, who both scored
29, then added 64 to get the innings back on track.
The key knock, though, was played by Asher Alam, who came in at number six and hit 54 not out from 33 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.
Bilan added a dashing cameo of 27 from 18 balls, hitting six fours, and when he was out, chairman and captain Marcus Bateman came in with four needed.
He did not have to do anything as four byes were bowled down the leg side from the last ball of the 26th over to complete a three-wicket victory.
Ashbourne seconds were without a game, while the thirds had a winning draw away to Ilkeston Rutland fourths in Division Nine Central South.
Shane Wibberley top-scored with 48 not out in their 193 all out and Ilkeston batted out the draw at 170-5.
BRAILSFORD again batted well for a 117-run win over Elvaston seconds in Division Three South.
Matt Dowling made 80, Alexander Reid 110 and Rupert Sanderson 63 not out in a total of 317-7. Sanderson took 3-26 as Elvaston were dismissed for 200.
The seconds, with 179 all out, beat Alrewas thirds by six runs but the thirds were bowled out for 115 chasing 206 set by Mickleover thirds.
WOOTTON firsts had a fivewicket win over Alvaston & Boulton seconds in Division Four South after their visitors scored 216-9, Joe Clowes taking 5-26.
Peter Fielding made 50 and Simon Barker 67 not out.
The seconds picked up 27 points when opponents Sutton on the Hill could not raise a side in Division Seven South.