After a couple of indifferent performances, Langley Mill’s first team put themselves right back in the promotion race with a winning draw against Holmewood at a sunny Station Road on Saturday. A weakened Millers side got the better of promotion outsiders Holmewood to move to joint second in the league, 29 points behind leaders Ockbrook & Borrowash with a game in hand.
On an excellent batting track, Jamie Salmons lead the way with an impressive 96 before he was trapped leg before by Holmewood skipper Gavin Horton. Along the way, Salmons lost fellow opener Jay Holmes, caught and bowled by James Taylor for 6, followed by Sajendra Thimal, bowled for 43 and Andrew Bailey, bowled for 2, both wickets falling to Steve Fisher.
Salmons fell with the score on 209, his innings containing 14 fours and a six, and six runs later, the Millers lost their fifth wicket when Paul Bailey was caught by Bradley Walker for 43, giving Fisher his third.
Andy Sibley was next to go, caught by keeper Chris Goodhand, off Jamie Horton for 8 and it was left to Paul Aldred and Alex Bacon, both drafted in from the seconds, to take the hosts to a respectable 277 for 6 at the end of their 46 overs. Bacon finished unbeaten on 24 and Aldred was also undefeated on 28.
For the visitors, Fisher returned figures of 3 for 62, and there was a wicket apiece for Taylor and the Horton brothers.
Holmewood started their reply confidently, moving on to 44 before Taylor was caught by Jordan Fredrickson, off Jay Holmes’, bowling for 16. David Gray then joined opener Bradley Walker and the pair took Holmewood on to 94 before Walker edged Grant Ball to keeper Sibley to depart for 44.
One run later, Matt Ryalls was out leg before to Aldred without troubling the scorers, but Gray was joined by his skipper and the pair put on a century partnership which took Holmewood on to 195. Holmes then took a stunning catch to dismiss Horton for 56, giving Aldred a second.
Gray continued to bat well, passing fifty despite losing Michael Saville, caught by Andrew Ball off Aldred for 5, Goodhand, caught by Sibley off Andrew Bailey, also for 5, and Jamie Horton, run out for 9.
The Millers total was just out of reach of Holmewood and they settled for a losing draw, ending up 36 short of their target. Gray finished unbeaten on 76, his 106 ball knock being the mainstay of the innings.
For Langley Mill, Aldred returned figures of 3 for 59, Holmes 1 for 28, Grant Ball 1 for 53 and Andrew Bailey 1 for 49.
Scores: Langley Mill Utd (17pts) 277-6 [46 overs] (J Salmons 96, S Thimal 43, A Bailey 43, S Fisher 3-62) drew with Holmewood (11pts) 241-7 [46 overs] (D Gray 76*, G Horton 56, P Aldred 3-59)
