Stung by the criticism in last week’s Mercury they attacked from the first ball, a wicket to young Joe Bradbury.

Matthew Daldorph’s improving swing bowling snaffled 4-10 in five accurate overs.

Lewis Heap, two in two balls, bowled well, and Jack Higton and Frank Marshall took remarkable catches as Ambergate were dismissed for 49 in 21 overs.

The reply wobbled early on, but Jack Griffiths stayed in for a decisive 13 not out and David Mason guided the team home in the 15th over with a statesman-like ten not out.

In their In Tech Solutions-sponsored meeting with Denby seconds, played on a pitch beautifully prepared by groundsman Stephen Lowe, W&M first XI’s bowlers stuck to the task against sound batting from Anil Bria (108 not out) and Liam Glenn (45).

Spinner Upul Indrasiri obtained 2-50 in his 14 overs and Mark Woodward took the other wicket to fall in Denby’s 210-3.

But only Adam Marshall and Stephen Lowe, both 13, reached double figures against Denby’s opening bowlers, Simon Bria (2-47) and Dave Thompson (6-29), and Wirksworth suffered a heavy 133-run defeat.

Young players made a strong contribution as WMCC second XI battled for a losing draw against Codnor.

Jack Ritchie took 5-61 in 12 overs of leg spin.

Dan Nolan, Gary McCabe and Liam Murphy each took a wicket in support as Codnor closed on 216-8.

Colin Nadin made a very good 30 for W&M, but with eight wickets down defeat looked probable.

Ritchie then played a calculated defensive innings of 24 not out and he and Liam Murphy (nine not out) held the Codnor bowlers at bay for fifteen overs into the last.

The final seven overs were maidens, but with Ritchie out Rhys Kinder, last man in, showed a cool head facing the last four balls to hold out on 124-9.

On Sunday, W&M first XI’s Adam Marshall carried his bat for 62 not out against Clay Cross, an innings of high concentration in blistering heat, well supported by an aggressive 67 from Gary Webster.

It took Clay Cross until the penultimate over to win, but they lost just one wicket – a splendid Colin Julian catch off the bowling of Craig Shore.

Keeper Neil Doxey even shed his pads and reminded spectators of past glories with a few of Docker’s dobbers.

Wirksworth seconds’ game at home to Belper Amateurs was sponsored by Ian’s, the town’s hairdresser, and although not scalped, a six-wicket defeat was the result.

The WMCC innings of 101 was held together by a resolute partnership for the third wicket between veteran Paddy Turner (24) and 15-year-old Liam Murphy, who again defended well, batting for 31 overs and scoring 18. Turner, Matt Daldorph, Adrian Smith and Jack Griffiths each took a wicket and Jack Higton made an athletic leaping catch held at full length as he tumbled to the ground, but the Amateurs coasted to a comfortable victory at the close of a golden weekend on the Wirksworth ground.