Swarkestone preserve fine start thanks to another big century from Hughes
A SECOND century of the season from Alex Hughes helped Swarkeston preserve their unbeaten start to the season with an emphatic 204run win over Alvaston and Boulton.
And it was a swashbuckling performance from Hughes, who hit six sixes and 10 fours during his 128ball 157 at the Raygar Arena.
Nils Priestley and Andre Bradford also contributed with the bat, scoring 62 and 37 respectively as the visitors put themselves in a commanding position on 368.
Despite a chastening afternoon with the ball there was still four wickets for David Jacobs, while Matthew Woolley chipped in with 3-59.
The size of Alvaston’s reply was already an imposing one, but they were soon in further trouble when slipping to 43-3.
Garry Park restored some pride with a top score of 62 against his former club and Chris McIlroy ran up 37 at the opposite end.
Led by Priestley’s 4-30, however, the home side were skittled out for only 164.
Ockbrook & Borrowash also boast a 100% start to the campaign and they defeated promoted Alfreton by five wickets.
The latter soon found themselves 85-5 after being asked to bat. Joe New (36) and Owen Comins (32) looked to rebuild the innings and shared 47 runs for the sixth wicket but Alfreton laboured to a below-par 184-7.
Gareth Young, Dustin Melton and Jacob Conners shared six wickets for an Ockbrook side who passed the target in 34 overs thanks to Mykelo Bird’s 61 and Ethan Berlusconi’s unbeaten 55.
A magnificent 153 not out from Josh Brear guided Spondon to a second win in as many games.
He scored more than half of the home side’s closing total of 265-7 against Denby at the HSG Oval.
A scintilating knock from Brear included seven sixes and 14 fours as Spondon recovered from 8-2 to take control Brear put on 83 for the third wicket with Alistair Dixon (35).
Ben Scott was the pick of the Denby attack, finishing with 2-49.
Shanuka Vithanawasam’s top knock of 64 and James Parkin’s useful 33 threatened to keep things interesting.
However, four wickets each for Paul Allen and Joe Ashdown saw the visitor’s skittled out for 197.
Langley Mill United’s unbeaten start is over following defeat to Eckington. Rafay Ahmed led the scoring with 44 for a Millers side put into bat but missing their talisman, Samit Patel.
They looked vulnerable after closing their innings on 176-8.
Two wickets apiece for Nathan Musselwhite, Cameron Gordon and Stephen Ludlam helped Eckington keep their opponents in sight.
Steven Nicholas got the reply off to a solid start and finished the afternoon top scoring with 54.
A flurry of quick wickets, three of which were taken by -Fran Slater (3-25) saw Eckington slip to 115-5.
Timely interventions with the bat from Gordon (33 not out) and Ludlam (20 not out) were enough to chase down the target for a fivewicket success.
Three wickets each for Connor Marshall and Ryan McFadyean helped remove Alrewas for only 121 as Sandiacre Town enjoyed back-toback victories.
Town’s reply was led by James Chapman, the opener finishing unbeaten on 63 to preserve his fine start to the season.
Ticknall’s wait for a first win of the summer is over after they outscored early strugglers Marehay by 65 runs.
Greg Cork kept the scorers and fielders busy with a fine unbeaten 116 at The Grange.
Further contributions from Elliott Lawley (31) and Rahib Ali (29) saw Ticknall build up a solid 250-6.
James Kyte did his best to keep the opposition in check and was rewarded with 3-44 for his efforts.
Ryan Buckley kept his side in the game with a top score of 53 and Caleb Jasmat ascored 32 but Marehay fell 68 short, bowled out for 185 in 38.1 overs.
The bulk of the damage with the ball was done by Ben Sexton and Oliver Tucker, who both finished with 3-22, the latter striking the final blow.