Big hitting Neil Wing passed 1,000 runs for the season with a magnificent 99 against Chesterfield Barbarians on Saturday to take the Millers nearer to a deserved promotion. Wing’s innings included 12 fours and 5 sixes as Langley Mill picked up 19 points for the draw which maintains pressure on leaders Sandiacre Town.
Batting first, the Millers raced away putting on 75 for the first wicket before Andrew Ball was bowled by Tom Fowkes for 18. Dan Lacey joined Wing and the pair took the visitors into three figures before Lacey was caught by Dan Fawbert, off Alex Lawson, for three.
Craig Parker joined Wing and took the score to 164 before Wing edged a Lawson ball to keeper David Atkin to depart one short of his ton. Parker then took over the lead and blasted a 33 ball 43 before he was caught by Lawson, off Alex Fowkes, with the score on 208.
With the Millers wanting quick runs for a declaration, Steve Walker was bowled by Alex Fowkes for 22 and skipper Rich Davey was caught by Lawson, off Malc Straw, for 10. Rich Krupiak hit an unbeaten 22 before the visitors declared on 245 for 6 with four overs remaining.
The Barbarians reply started in disastrous fashion as opening bowlers Ball and Walker demolished the top order. Ball bowled Atkin for 4, had John Lee caught by Ben Scott for 9 and trapped Alex Fowkes leg before for a duck. Walker, meanwhile, bowled Sam Lawson without scoring and had Martin Wagstaff caught by Ryan Cox for 6 as the hosts slumped to 19 for 5.
With the Millers looking for an early finish, Barbarians skipper Jack Fletcher stopped the rot, aided by Fawbert. The pair put on a 95 run partnership, which crucially used up 35 overs. Fletcher finally fell, caught by Scott off Cox for a superb 56, but Fawbert remained defiant to the end batting 122 balls for a valuable 36.
The hosts lost Craig Bradbury, bowled by Davey for 13, but Alex Lawson joined Fawbert to take Barbarians to the losing draw.
For Langley Mill, Ball returned 3 for 36 and Walker 2 for 30. Cox’s wicket cost him 22 and Davey’s cost him 34.
Langley Mill remain in second place in 6 North, eight points behind Sandicare but with a game in hand. Eckington are closing the gap in third, but meet the leaders on Sunday in a game which will have a major bearing on the Millers promotion prospects.
Scores: Chesterfield Barbarians (6pts) 133-7 [50 overs] (J Fletcher 56, D Fawbert 36*) drew with Langley Mill Utd (19pts) 245-6dec [42 overs] (N Wing 99, C Parker 43)
