It's a busy weekend for Ilkeston Rutland CC
Ilkeston Rutland played host to Alfreton in the Premier League on Saturday and a crowd of several hundred on the Sunday for their annual eight-a-side tournament.
There is little doubt which will live longer in the collective memory but first to the encounter with Alfreton, which ended in a losing draw.
With Sunday's Cup Final just days away, Rutland's form book looks a little patchy. On the plus side, David Smit continued his tremendous late summer form with a third hundred since mid July – a score that took him past 1,000 runs for the season.
And in captain George Moulds they have Derbyshire's most in-form tosser of the coin. He made it seven in a row when he won the toss on Saturday.
Predictably, he inserted Alfreton and James Lockhart struck an early blow when he had Dean Whitmore brilliantly caught by a diving Paul Burrow.
Rob Green followed it up with the prize wicket of Matt Lineker but a third wicket partnership of 133 highlighted what a good wicket had been prepared by Derek Bentley.
Captain Alex Mace made 57 while all-rounder John Aspinall scored a chanceless, run-a-ball 100.
Rutland's bowling reserves were tested as Alfreton looked to accelerate from a position of strength and Smit responded by first breaking the partnership and finally clean bowling Aspinall.
The run-flow continued however and Alfreton closed on a challenging 237 for 5.
It was a new look at the top of the order for Rutland with no Anguillan opener for only the second time this season.
Chesney Hughes was on Derbyshire duty while fellow countryman Lyndell Richardson has returned to the West Indies.
The new pairing of David Smit and Tom Brandrick began well. They removed Aspinall from the attack – clubbing him for five boundaries and a six in the space of ten balls but a change brought instant results when spinner Tom Young removed Brandrick for 16.
Smit was now well into his stride and threatening to win another game off his own bat. George Moulds was finding the going a lot tougher but was playing second fiddle perfectly as the pair took the score to 166 for 1.
Smit, who had cruised past the 100 mark, was then bowled in Young's final over for 109 and the game changed in an instant. Alfreton stuck to spin. A frustrated Moulds was bowled by Ben Slater for 39 and three more wickets fell to Lineker's left-armers.
Rutland subsided from a position of dominance to close on 207 for 7 and take nine points to Alfreton's 17.
Seconds
The 2nd XI put up a good display when they came away with a winning draw from their trip to title chasing Holmewood.
They posted 190 for 7 on a green wicket with Ken Seaman top scoring with 39 and Matt Wakefield making 31.
Holmewood are expert chasers but their attacking game was countered by accurate bowling, backed up by splendid fielding.
Rutland held seven chances including two stunning efforts from stand-in captain Ben Moulds and Wakefield. Chris Trueman Snr was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 51 and at 152 for 9 with ten overs left, 27 points looked the likely outcome. In the event, Holmewood survived to close on 180.
Thirds
With holidays causing havoc and the dreaded football starting, Rutland's 3rd XI sent just nine players to top of the table Darley Dale.
They were back soon enough having been bowled out for just 56 with only youngsters Adam Slater (26) and George Brandrick (11) reaching double figures.
And now back to the main event – the eight-a-side carnival of cricket that was the centrepiece of Rutland's main fundraising weekend of the year.
A crowd of several hundred enjoyed a cricket spectacular on Sunday with 12 teams taking part on the Rec.
This was a boisterous occasion with random teams representing different cricket clubs, pubs and football teams.
The group stages saw twice winners West Hallam put out defending champions Nutbrook to set up a semi-final with the 'Sloggers' – a team of Rutland regulars captained by Sam Moulds.
On the adjacent pitch, attention centred on Chesney Hughes who was guest star of the Ilkeston Ladies team. He looked a bit scratchy but still managed 94 not out in one seven-over contest. The Ladies, however, were outwitted by Ilkeston Rutland FC, organised by wily Lee Bradley who got them beaten before Hughes arrived. In the other group, The Bridge Inn had two easy wins.
In the semi-final the Footballers' star signing James Brandrick set things up with seven sixes in a whirlwind 62. The footballers then celebrated every wicket with a full-team pile-on. In the other semi, the Sloggers beat West Hallam in a thriller with Tom Brandrick hitting a six off the last ball to steal it.
The final saw James Brandrick secure the six-hit prize with three more maximums but his efforts were in vain as the Sloggers won comfortably. In all, 1,000 was raised for the charity, Child Victims of Crime with a Gentleman's Evening organised by Nick Dawson on Friday also contributing.
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Weather for Ilkeston
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
