Matlock are cut further adrift at the bottom

Matlock bowler Peter Camm took five wickets against Dunstall but it wasnt enough to help his side to victory.

Matlock now sit 38 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Derbyshire Premier League after defeat at home to Dunstall on Saturday.

Matlock captain Matt Cluer’s decision to field was immediately justified by Peter Camm taking the first wicket with the fourth ball of the day then adding two more in his third over.

Dunstall’s 10-3 became 10-4 when opening bat Benstead, having survived 20 minutes, was caught by Steve Pell off the bowling of Steve Chapman.

Dunstall captain Gouldstone put the brake on until a bowling change brought Ed Lander into the attack, first trapping Gouldstone leg before, then bowling Hill three balls later- 41-6, surely this was to be Matlock’s day.

Mandleburg led a Dunstall fightback, battling for 53 runs before providing a second catch to Pell, this time off James Smith (1-10) and a modest total of 93-7. The tail wagged to add 32 more runs in an all out of 125 in 42 overs.

Matlock’s openers Kev Leatherday and James Smith made an aggressive start until Leatherday was caught by Brodrick at extra cover for 28.

Smith then mistimed a short ball to be out for 18 just as the score hit 50.

Dunstall sensed a breakthrough and, having brought spin bowler Elstone into the attack, surrounded the batsmen with helmeted close fielders and bombarded the umpires with vociferous appeals.

Pell became Elstone’s second victim and then it became the Elstone story, finishing with 5-14 and being instrumental in the running out of the in-form Drew Mullaney.

Stubborn resistance by Camm, Cluer, Chapman, Burton, Lander and Ed Fletcher produced plenty of appeals from the opposition but insufficient runs leaving Ed Blackburn as the not out batsman. Scrimshaw (3-45) finished where Elstone left off with a little help from Clewley (1-13). The all out total 86 gave a deserved 35 run victory to Dunstall and extendedtheir rise up the league table.

Next Saturday Matlock travel to Sandiacre Town, currently third in the table, with key wicket-keeper/batsman Drage Thompson expected to return to the fray.