Chesterfield 1st XI 266-6, Spondon 1st XI 270-6
(Derbyshire Premier League)
Chesterfield looked to be on track for a return to winning ways at Spondon on Saturday before being derailed by a belligerent batting display that took the home team to their first win of the season.
A close contest seemed unlikely earlier in the day when Chesterfield’s early order once again struggled to make much of a mark.
Paul Burdett (30), Alex Hibbert (33) and Simon Lacey (27) all got going without going on to restore their side’s precarious position after the loss of early wickets.
This left Chesterfield in the doldrums at 136-6. and with both wickets and time at a premium the likelihood seemed low of reaching a barely adequate 200 on the high scoring Locko Road ground.
The game then underwent a remarkable transformation as the seventh-wicket pairing of Drage Thompson and Matt Higginbottom set about restoring their side’s fortunes with a savage counter-attack.
Higginbottom took centre stage with a blistering onslaught that took him to an unbeaten 76 off only 37 balls faced as the laced the bowlers to all parts of the ground and beyond.
Thompson’s invaluable 45 not out included a sprinkling of fours and sixes and came at more than a run a ball.
In 41 minutes the pair added 130 and in doing so smashed the club record for the seventh wicket as well as setting a new all-time high for the Premier League.
A shell shocked Spondon were now facing a challenging score and looked some way off the pace when their fourth wicket went down with the total on 90.
But their batsmen continued to chase the game and two productive partnerships took the total to 185-6 by which time the side needed another 82 runs off 12 overs.
With the pattern of proceedings threatening to mirror the first innings, Chesterfield strived desperately to take a wicket to stem the flow of runs that were coming at the required rate.
But in the absence of a wicket, the run chase continued remorselessly and Spondon captain Joe Ashdown (87 not out) saw his side home with one over to spare.
It was an exceptionally entertaining game, but it left Chesterfield still searching for a win to maintain their position amongst the challengers to league leaders Swarkestone.
The search for the elusive win continues at Queen’s Park on Saturday when Ticknell are the visitors before Twenty20 action bank holiday Monday when Ticknall return along with Eckington and Alfreton for a series of games in the Cockspur Cup.
Spondon 22 points, Chesterfield eight points.
Chesterfield 235-8, Breadsall 1st XI 94 all out
(Derbyshire County League)
Chesterfield compiled a solid 235-8 on Saturday with good contributions from James Colton (44), Joe Cooper (56), Dean Hopkinson (43) and Sam Lang (43).
Breadsall made a steady start in moving to 57-1 before collapsing to 94 all out as Paul Goodwin (3-18), Tim Kirk (3-16) and Aiden Marsh (2-0) took Chesterfield to a 141 run win and maximum points.
Chesterfield 27 points, Breadsall four points
Chesterfield 3rd XI 162 all out, Firbeck Colliery 163-6
(Mansfield League)
Matt Davison (32) and Luke Mantle (33) helped Chesterfield to a total of 162 on Sunday before Chris Tindle (46) and Adam Dutton (68) saw Firbeck home to a four wicket win with six overs to spare.
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