Division One

Matlock first XI 150-3 beat Aston-on-Trent first XI 149

all out.

WITH the weather set fair for the weekend and a belter of a wicket to look forward to, Matlock were looking to get their own show on the road having narrowly lost their first game.

Asking Aston to bat first can have calamitous side effects, as their gung-ho approach can only be admired, and if it is their day then you can be made to pay heavily.

Saturday, however, was Matlock’s day.

A great bowling performance once again never let Aston settle, and although it would be fair to say that Aston had the better of the first half hour, thereafter it was all the home team.

Adam Burton, on his first appearance at Causeway Lane in a Matlock shirt, once again bowled his outswingers with pace and control.

Steve Haslam’s full length and very tight lines were appreciated by umpire Lord and Mandla Mashimbyi’s awkward bounce and experience made hay of Aston’s middle order.

Eddie Lowe wasn’t quite at the races in this game but still picked up a useful wicket as again, the quartet performed ably.

Nobody reached 30 for Aston, which might be said was because they lacked patience, but more so that Matlock allowed them little room to flourish in their 149 all out total.

In reply, despite losing Martin Leatherday to Shahid Khan’s off cutter, Andy Smith’s diligence and Josh Mierkalns’ dash complimented each other perfectly in a second wicket partnership of 96 and almost knocked the stuffing out of the visitors.

It was left to Maazi man-of-the-match ‘Boom Boom’ Mashimbyi to remind all onlookers quite how small Causeway Lane can appear as Matlock cruised home with 16 overs to spare.

Matlock first XI 246-7 drew with Denby first XI 178-6

ON another hot day, it can be said with some certainty that Matlock weren’t overly disappointed that they were asked to bat first at Denby, who, having been relegated from the Derbyshire Premier, were finding it perhaps more difficult than they had imagined to get a toe hold in a pretty useful Division One.

At tea Matlock had amassed 246-7 thanks in the main to an impressive knock from Andy Rogers, who doesn’t hang around once set, and a superb innings from Maazi man-of-the-match Josh Mierkalns.

Mierkalns certainly doesn’t lack confidence, and nor does he lack ability as he batted Denby out of the game.

His timing of the ball throughout, as well as his range of shots, was the difference between the sides as he batted for all but the final four overs.

Timely contributions also came from Steve Pell, Jonathan Stapleton and Mark Burton at the death, as only Yaqoob impressed with the ball in a wilting Denby attack.

In reply Denby’s 178-6 sort of suggests that they made half an attempt to chase down the big score, but was perhaps a bit flattering as they rarely raised the rate above three per over until close to the end of the innings when defeat had been avoided.