Collapse condemns Ticknall to defeat
A BATTING collapse sent Ticknall to an opening day defeat to Swarkestone as the Derbyshire County Cricket League finally got under way.
They were beaten by two wickets at The Grange in Beechwood Mazda Premier Division South as a fightback with the ball proved not enough to save them.
Ticknall slumped from 46-1 to 99 all out at the hands of Joe Priestley (3-24), Ben Hutchinson (2-30), Harry White (2-28) and Nick Potts (2-5).
Ousman Khizer (3-31) gave Ticknall hope at 9-2 but Callum Brodrick (29) drew their early sting and though Waseem Fazal chipped in with 3-32, Potts (27 not out) and Lewis Hearne (13 not out) steered Swarkestone home from a shaky 72-8.
Reigning champions Spondon picked up where they left off with a 28-run win over a plucky Elvaston.
Paul Edwards’ magnificent 80 from only 50 balls, with six sixes and six fours, from the middle order powered Spondon to 241-8 after Mitchell Wagstaff (42), Isaac Harrison (25) and Alistair Dixon (25) had set a solid base. Ben Wright (2-55) and Ali Hassan (2-55) did their best to restrict the damage.
Ben Wright (31) and Dave Simpson (25) helped Elvaston recover from 39-2 after the interval and Alex Haleem (51 not out) and David Jacobs (44) added a quick-fire 67 for the seventh wicket but two wickets each for Paul Allen, Chris Windmill and Mitchel Wagstaff held them to 213-7.
Ockbrook & Borrowash overcame a shaky start to beat Alvaston & Boulton by 93 runs.
Matt Woolley (4-52) and Ahmed Raza (2-35) caused the home side early problems but Jacob Conners hit 76 off 65 balls with three sixes and six fours to turn the tide, alongside Josh Sharratt (33).
The target was set at 197-6 and after Matt Arnold (52) and Faisal Khan (24) rallied A&B from 17-2, Luke Baddeley (4-17), Oscar Gaunt (2-17) and Gareth Young (2-22) struck to bowl them out for 104.
Sandiacre Town began their bid to win the northern section with a comfortable 46-run win over Eckington but it was the home side who made the early running as Nathan Musselwhite (4-40) and Cameron Gordon (2-29) reduced Sandiacre to 12-4.
Scott Mcneill (55) and Bill Anderson, whose 69 included 12 fours off 78 deliveries, added 130 for the fifth wicket and a late boost from Dan Wheeldon (38) took them to 200.
Eckington needed a good start but they fell behind the pace. Kabeer Imtiaz (2-42) held up progress and despite knocks from Josh Andrews (49) and Danny State (46 not out), Eckington finished on 154-6.
Langley Mill United’s return to the Premier Division ended in defeat by two wickets to Chesterfield.
Tom Brandrick (57), George
Brandrick (25) and Ryan Brunelleschi (21) took the scoreboard to three figures in the 27th over and Jamie Salmons (51) prospered with three sixes and six fours but Tom Bacon (4-35) bowled well at the death to hold the Millers to 193.
From 42-3 in reply, with Jack Scott taking 2-27, Chesterfield needed the rebuilding work of Callum Hiron (27) and Harry Wilmott (27).
Andrew Bailey (4-66) kept the home side in the hunt at 98-6 only for David Hunt (51 not out) and Ahmad Zazai (30) to add 62 for the seventh wicket and Chesterfield edged home at the end of the 36th over.
Newcomers Marehay won by 17 runs against Denby, fired at the top of their order by Lewis Palmer (67).
Peter Burgoyne (2-31) put the home side in check at 99-4 but Jonathan Bradder (35) and Ben Perry-taylor (48) added 81 for the fifth wicket and Denby were grateful for a Jack Richardson hat-trick (4-24) to restrict Marehay to 205.
James Kyte (2-33) struck two early blows after the interval but a stand of 105 between opener Chris Fletcher (73) and Burgoyne (80) kept Denby in the chase. Dave Buckley (4-40) dismissed them both and Denby were held to 188-7.