A feature of Langley Mill’s 2010 season was their inability to ‘finish the job off’, winning in style against the top sides, but losing to teams they should have beaten easily. After Saturday’s performance at Walton-on-Trent, it looks like 2011 could well be heading the same way as the Millers were easily beaten by a side struggling in the bottom half of the table.
As in their first encounter at Station Road earlier in the season, the Millers batting order failed to produce a competitive score as they were reduced to 196 all out, thanks mainly to James Blackwell’s 5 for 25. The hosts breezed past the Millers score with six wickets and five overs left.
Batting first, the Millers reached a total of 196 for 7 from their 46 overs. Opener Aaron Tullett top scored with 43, assisted by Sajendra Thimal who contributed 34. Skipper Andrew Bailey batted 103 balls for his unbeaten 39, holding up one end while the middle order collapsed around him. Only Andy Sibley with an unbeaten 20 offered any sort of resistance toward the end.
Walton started off shakily losing Luke Hemingway, caught by Jordan Fredrickson off David Farnsworth, and David Preston, caught by Farnsworth off Thimal, with only four on the board.
On 26, Alex Paget was run out by Fredrickson for 14 and Bailey bowled Edward Chapman for 43 with the hosts on 81. From here, Andy Lathbury (87 not out) and Andy Easter (40 not out) saw Walton home in comfort.
All the Millers bowlers were expensive - Farnsworth returned 1 for 49, Thimal 1 for 55 and Bailey 1 for 63.
Scores: Walton-on-Trent (22pts) 198-4 [40.4 overs] (E Chapman 43, A Lathbury 87*, A Easter 40*) beat Langley Mill Utd (6pts) 196-7 [46 overs] (A Tullett 43, S Thimal 34, A Bailey 39*, J Blackwell 5-25) by 6 wickets
