After a string of good results, the Langley Mill first team entertained Ockbrook & Borrowash at a wet Station Road on Saturday. With the two teams tied in second spot, one point behind the leaders, a good result was vital for the Millers, but it was the visitors who landed the spoils.
With rain falling all morning, it was surprising that any play was possible, but the teams managed to fit in a 32 over game. Ockbrook took to the crease first and made light of the difficult conditions. Openers Dave Hallack and Mykylo Bird took the visitors to 86 before Jay Holmes bowled the experienced Hallack for 29.
Skipper Gaz Young joined Bird and the two took the score into three figures before both fell in the space of ten runs. Bird was first to go, stumped by Andy Sibley off Andrew Bailey for 42, followed by Young, caught by Bailey off Holmes for 15 to leave Ockbrook on 113 for 3.
On 142, Bailey took his second, bowling Daniel Tucker for 27, but Dave Wood and Matt Wood took the visitors on to 210 before Matt was caught by Jack Scott, off Dave Farnsworth, for 34. As their innings closed, Ockbrook’s score had reached 211 for 5 with Dave Wood undefeated on 39.
For Langley Mill, Holmes picked up 2 for 26 with Bailey’s two coming at an expensive 70 runs. Farnsworth returned 1 for 46 from his six overs as the visitors set up a challenging total in the conditions.
The Millers were less able to cope with the damp conditions and slumped to 52 for 4. Holmes didn’t trouble the scorers as he was caught by Matt Wood, off Louis Hurst, but Aaron Tullett and Sajendra Thimal took the Millers on to 42 before Thimal was caught behind by Bird, off Young, for 16. One run later, Andrew Bailey was also caught behind for a duck, giving Hurst his second and Tullett fell for 26, stumped by Bird off Daniel Baldy.
At this stage, the Millers gave up hope of overturning the Ockbrook total and Paul Bailey and Alex Bacon batted sensibly for the losing draw. Bailey finished on 36 not out and Bacon 32 not out as the Millers finished on 132 for 4, 79 runs short.
Hurst was the pick of the Ockbrook bowlers picking up 2 for 31 while Young and Baldy bagged one each.
Ockbrook & Borrowash return to the top of Division 3 on 198 points, three ahead of Brailsford & Ednaston, with a further eight back to the Millers in third. Crucially, the Millers have a game in hand on the top two.
Scores: Langley Mill Utd (6pts) 132-4 [32 overs] (P Bailey 36*, A Bacon 32*) drew with Ockbrook & Borrowash (17pts) 211-5 [32 overs] (M Bird 42, D Wood 39*, M Wood 34)
