After a dismal performance in the field, the Langley Mill second team had to be content with a losing draw at neighbours Codnor on Saturday but were boosted by leaders Sandiacre Town’s shock defeat at lowly Chesterfield Barbarians. The Millers retain second spot, ten behind the leaders, but with two games in hand. Next week’s opponents Eckington are still 36 behind the Millers in third spot.
Skipper Rich Davey won the toss for the Millers and asked Codnor to take first knock in damp conditions. In only the second over, the visitors made the breakthrough, Alex Bacon having Jonathan Woolley caught by Rich Krupiak for 3, with the score on 5. Chris Beach was then joined by Darron Brown and the pair put on 98 before Brown was caught by Oliver Blake, off Davey, for 42.
On 134, the hosts lost Lee Colledge, caught by Andrew Ball for 17 to give Davey a second and Luke Rowley forced Beach into an error when the batsman hit the ball miles into the air to the waiting hands of Davey to depart for 62.
Codnor lost a fifth wicket on 143 when Davey bowled Neil Sparham for 7 and Bacon picked up his second, bowling Aaron Wood for 12.
On 170, Rowley struck again bowling Ant Parry for a single and Rowley’s third came on 178 when Matt Vincent was caught by Blake for 17. Ben Wood finished off with a rapid 22 not out as the hosts reached 199 for 8 at the end of the final over.
Langley Mill’s bowling was expensive. Rich Davey’s three cost him 63, while Rowley’s three cost 64. Bacon’s two came at a cost of 45 as poor fielding proved costly.
In reply, the Millers started well reaching 45 before Neil Wing was caught by Ben Wood, off Parry for 13. Craig Parker failed to trouble the scorers, falling caught and bowled to Parry, but Andrew Ball and Nick Wright took the visitors to three figures in some style.
Ball hit a fine 60 before he fell caught and bowled by Sparhem with the score on 117, and five runs later, Steve Walker was caught by keeper Vincent for a duck to give Colledge the first of four.
The Codnor skipper followed up, removing Wright, bowled for 48, Krupiak, bowled for 4 and Bacon, caught by James Melbourne in the deep for 10.
With the scoreboard showing 150 for 7, the Millers settled for the losing draw and lost skipper Davey, run out off the final ball of the game for 14. Blake remained undefeated on 13 as the visitors finished 26 adrift on 173 for 8.
For Codnor, Colledge bowled well with 4 for 46, while Parry returned 2 for 26.
Scores: Codnor (17pts) 199-8 [46 overs] (C Beach 62, D Brown 42, L Rowley 3-64, R Davey 3-63) drew with Langley Mill Utd (10pts) 173-8 [46 overs] (A Ball 60, N Wright 48, L Colledge 4-46)
