Seconds take last day victory To fend off relegation
CLIFTON seconds won their battle against relegation from County League Division Six South with a dramatic run chase to earn a last-day victory on Saturday.
A good bowling performance from Paul Allen, who knocked over Allestree’s top order to take 4-45, looked to be setting them up for an away win but they were held up by Allestree’s number nine, Mohsan Akhtar, who hit 58 not out to get his side up to 174 all out.
Ben Gregory had 3-50 and Eddie Donnelly 3-39.
It was still a very gettable target but nerves were shredded as opener and captain Phil Marsh went for four and Stuart Apanasewicz, Tom Hilton, Harvey Clarke and Stuart Blake all got into the teens without being able to stay in.
Paddy Welsh added 26 then, in the end, Samil Mahmood and Allen calmly added the remaining runs needed, SCORASHBOURNE
ing 28 not out and 25 not out respectively in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand.
Victory kept Clifton seven points ahead of second-bottom Swarkestone thirds, who also won their last match.
Clifton’s firsts ended their Division One season with defeat to promoted Dunstall despite a brilliant unbeaten 155 from 116 by Mehran Ibrahim, who hit 23 fours and two sixes.
He added 161 for the fourth wicket with Jack Barker (59) as they totalled 275-6.
Ibrahim has hit six 50s and three centuries in 13 innings for a total of 886 runs since arriving late as he awaited a visa and this was his highest score.
Dunstall, however, were equal to it, with their captain, Callum Brodrick, scoring 114 not out to lead them to a sixwicket win with six overs to spare.
The thirds missed promotion from Division Nine South West by only two points after beating Lullington Park fourths on the last day.
Steve Walwyn’s developing side raced to 288-3 declared from 36 overs with Laurence Tinsley’s maiden century, 105 not out, supported by Marcus Caton’s 67 and James Bakewell’s 64.
Craig Hill hit 81 for Lullington but three wickets each for Walwyn and Ben King saw them bowled out for 163.
Yoxall, who had gone into the weekend leading the division, were beaten by secondplaced Rolleston fourths, who pinched the title, but Yoxall’s eight points just kept them ahead of Clifton.
ASHBOURNE’S firsts finished on a high, bowling out Rosehill Methodists for 116 before edging to a four-wicket win.
Sahir Alam’s opening spell of 2-10 from seven overs had Rosehill on the back foot, Arsherr Fernando took 3-46 and there were two wickets each for Mohammed Haroon and Oscar Bateman.
At 16-4 in their reply, Ashbourne were in danger of throwing it away and they were not out of trouble at 56-6 but Sahir Alam scored 25 and Fernando came to the rescue with the bat, with 42 not out, joining Marcus Bateman (17 not out) in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 51 to win the game.
Ashbourne seconds had a comfortable win over Brailsford thirds in Division Nine
South West, Simon Hellaby hitting 100 not out, with 11 fours and five sixes before they declared on 222-6.
Brailsford were sent packing for 87, Liam Duffy taking 4-6 from 4.2 overs.
The thirds conceded against Nutbrook thirds in Division Nine Central South.
BRAILSFORD stayed up in Division Three South thanks to a
four-wicket last day win over Trentside, who made 208-8 after being put in.
With three run outs, no Brailsford bowler took more than one wicket but Matt Dowling conceded only eight runs from his 10 overs.
Dowling then hit 72 from 79 balls, putting on 126 for the second wicket with Mitchell Coxon (50) to set his team on their way and Duncan Player wrapped it up with 38 not out at the end.
The seconds lost by 101 runs away to Chellaston thirds, being bowled out for 91 chasing 192-9.
WOOTTON earned promotion from Division Four South on the last day, taking advantage of Spondon thirds’ 95-run defeat to champions Swarkestone seconds.
Although no details have yet been posted, Wootton battled to a 28-run home win over Uttoxeter, making 212-8 and bowling the opposition out for 184 to finish eight points ahead of Spondon in the second promotion place.
Wootton seconds ended their Division Seven South season with a one-wicket win over Ticknall thirds.
They looked set fair for a quick win after bowling out their opponents for 75 but a middle order collapse made it a tight finish before they edged over the line.