Matlock 104-8 drew with Rolls Royce 226-9

After a disappointing losing draw at Staveley, in which the only positives were that Matlock weren`t defeated outright, and yet another half century for Derek Randall, Matlock entertained promotion favourites Rolls Royce at Causeway Lane on Sunday.

With half of Derby turning up to watch, evenly split between members of the Rolls Royce Club, and their promotion rivals Aston on Trent, Matlock asked Rolls to bat first on a used wicket, and one which had only been decided upon some 20 minutes before the start.

Given the armwaving and hulabaloo, one would have thought Rolls had been asked to bat first on a pitch used earlier in the morning for a motorcross meeting, but when the umpires asserted that it was indeed Matlock`s call, and not the visitors, things calmed down a little.

Rolls were in trouble from time to time but they bat very deep, and they bat with panache. A final score of 226-9 was an excellent recovery from being 74-4 but not that surprising, with Alvi and Akhtar batting very well on the slow turning wicket.

Visitors to Hall Leys Park were kept interested as Alvi in particular launched into anything overpitched.

Martin Leatherday`s mid innings spell helped, but with his best return in Division One, and second best career figures in 29 years of DCCL cricket Steve Haslam`s mix of off spin and yorkers kept the brake on at the pavilion end.

In reply, and against the experienced and wily Naeem Akhtar, things would always be difficult.

His return of 4-7 in his 15 overs give some idea of his control of length, line and movement, supported ably by Hussain`s commendable left arm spin, but whereas Matlock folded against Stainsby under pressure, today they held on amidst appealing that had to be seen to be believed.

Some call it high jinks, some call it brow beating of the umpires and finally Umpire Davies gave a formal warning to skipper Akhtar to keep his players on a tighter leash.

With light disappearing fast, captain Pell saw off Akhtar`s final over with fielders perched on the end of his bat, to see Matlock to a credible losing draw.