So tight at the top again for Ticknall
WITH a 150-run hammering of Langley Mill and a surprise defeat for Sandiacre Town, the top of the Beechwood Mazda Derbyshire Premier Division came back to within touching distance for Ticknall.
The leaders lost by 37 runs at home to Alvaston & Boulton, which meant Ticknall are now only six points off the top in third, with Ockbrook & Borrowash taking over at the summit following their sevenwicket defeat of Eckington.
Not for the first time, Paul Borrington carried Ticknall to a dominant position, his 128 not out coming off 170 balls with 12 fours in a total of 276-4.
Rahib Ali (71) and Will Hobson (36) provided great support, with Ali contributing eight fours and two sixes to an opening stand of 140 with Borrington.
Matt Smyth (2-11), Jack Gorbert (2-41) and Sam Trotman (2-7) spoiled a decent Millers’ start at 58-0 and when Ousman Khizer returned to the attack to take 4-41, the end came swiftly.
Langley Mill were fired out for 126 in the 34th over.
Ticknall are at home to new leaders Ockbrook on Saturday.
Sam van Daesdonk’s superb 6-15 sent Greenhouse Café Division One leaders Alfreton spinning from 41-0 to 115 all out and set up a huge seven-wicket win for Alrewas.
The victory leaves Alrewas fourth but means they are now only 34 points off the pace.
Matt Frend (2-40) and Craig Swinfield (1-44) were kept at bay initially but returned to hasten Alfreton’s demise, with Billy Hodgkinson (1-8) also among the wickets.
Alrewas were 3-1 in their reply but second-wicket pair Gareth Woolley (35) and Hodgkinson (32) put on 64 to get their challenge back on track.
Neither could see the job through to the end but Stephen Cole wasted no time taking his side to victory in the 36th over, finishing 27 not out off 26 balls with two fours and three sixes.
Alfreton, who lost unbeaten record the previous weekend, saw their lead cut to 14 points from Rolleston, who were made to work hard to beat bottom of the table Dunstall by 57 runs.
Gareth Marshall (28) and Louis Burrows (29) set Rolleston away nicely and there were useful contributions from Danial Zaheer (21), Niall Dawkins (20) and Alex Britton (23).
But it was only because Richard Green pitched in with a quick unbeaten 42, off 30 balls with three sixes and a four, that they made it to 205-7.
Dunstall reached 34-1 in reply thanks to Matt Arnold (20) and Reeve Evitts (24) but Graham Dent (2-31) and Usman Muzaffar (3-18) cranked up the heat on the home side.
Ben Liversage weighed in with 2-19 as Dunstall slumped to 84-9 until Michael Graves’ 48 not out, with eight fours, provided late resistence alongside last man Tom Bailey (12). They added 64 but 148 all out still left Dunstall well short.
The top of the Lullington Park order crumbled to Sawley opening bowlers Renaldo Holder (3-16) and Muhammad Atif (3-19) and 78 all out was the outcome, with only Joe Collier (16) and Ryan Ware (10) making it to double figures.
There were wickets for James Whiteland and Brendon Louw but Sawley soon wrapped up an eightwicket win inside 20 overs to leave Park back in the bottom two.