CRAIG Watson’s breathtaking double century lit up the Mill on Saturday only for rain to deny an intriguing finish to Tutbury’s clash with Derby Congs.
The big-hitting batsman blasted his way to an unbeaten 210 from just 137 balls, blazing four sixes and 32 fours in his first three-figure score in four years.
A talented and big-hitting bat, Watson has been one of Tutbury’s top performers in an inconsistent season where they missed out on promotion from Division Two.
And the Mill side had another frustrating afternoon against Congs in a match where 524 runs were scored off just 78 overs.
Support was sporadic for Watson, except for opening partner Lee Stanbury, who scored 25 out of an opening stand of 97.
But it did not matter as Watson’s effort alone helped his side to a huge 323-5.
Ben Bartram (2-31) reduced Congs, relegated following the match, to 52-3 after the break but an excellent unbroken partnership of 149 between opener Ben de Vos (104no) and Anuj Jari (51no) left the reply on a very healthy 201-3 after 32 overs.
Victory was probably just out of reach, and Congs would still have been relegated anyway, but heavy rain intervened and ruined what might have been an enthralling finale.
De Vos’ innings, incidentally, spanned just 84 deliveries and included 16 fours, but paled into insignificance against Watson’s mammoth effort.
ALREWAS’ hopes of promotion from Division Three all but ended with defeat to Langley Mill, who took a step closer to Division Two cricket in 2012.
A stand of 124 between Tom Chapman (74) and Ollie Broadway (53) put Alrewas in command and the good work was maintained by Jonny Cole (56) and Chris Chapman (28).
Alrewas closed on a challenging 243-5 but Langley Mill were on target from the start of their reply with openers Jeff Wharton (94) and Paul Bailey (108no) moving swiftly to a stand of 143.
Wharton had taken only 53 balls to make 94, a knock which featured an impressive six sixes and nine fours.
Matt Williams (3-55) and Nick Richards (2-48) made a few inroads but the wicket of Bailey remained elusive and Langley Mill swept home by five wickets with nine overs to spare.
Bailey’s fine innings spanned only 114 deliveries and included three sixes and 19 fours.
TRENTSIDE are looking anxiously over their shoulder after their clash with Holmewood was washed out.
The result leaves the Branston outfit just two points off the relegation zone ahead of the weekend’s double header with Brailsford & Ednaston and, crucially, Lullington Park 2nds, who sit a place and two points behind them.
Trentside’s reply on Saturday was cut short after 34 overs following Holmewood’s impressive 279-7.
Only Ben Tivey (4-49) posed any significant threat for Trentside, who were under the cosh early on after tea against the bowling of Jamie Horton (3-61) and James Taylor (2-36).
Trentside slipped to a sorry 61-6 before Ben Liversage (41no) and Stephen Moran (28no) brought a little bit of sense to the proceedings and arrested the alarming slump.
A draw was the best that Trentside could have hoped for but neither side wanted the rain.
LULLINGTON Park 2nds were on the verge of what may turn out to have been a vital win against Brailsford in their bid to avoid relegation.
But they were cruelly denied by a late afternoon deluge.
Brailsford, chasing 221 to win, had been reduced to 111-7 after 28.3 overs by some excellent bowling from the experienced Danny Gough (3-38) and Will Smith (3- 36) but the mid-table side were saved by the rain.
The vital wicket of Tom Gadsby (45) had just been taken and the Brailsford tail was there for the taking.
Earlier in the day, Lullington had made a dreadful start, slumping to 23-3 in the face of good bowling from Duncan Player (3-38), but they responded well thanks to Tom Caron (89) who, in league with Gough (20), Alex Thompson (29) and Charlie Veale (26no), steered his side to their challenging total of 220-7.
WALTON’S classy Ed Chapman hit a superb unbeaten 125 against Pilsley but his efforts were all in vain as rain washed out any prospect of a much-needed Walton victory.
Chapman’s innings was very much a solo effort, with only Alex Paget (30), who helped add 63 for the third wicket, able to provide much support.
Chapman remained unbeaten at the close and Walton posted a competitive 260-9.
Dan Russell and James Blackwell claimed early wickets after tea but Pakistani pro Saeed Bin Nasir (66no) made good progress and Pilsley, who are all but relegated as a result, had reached 120-2 after 29.4 overs when the rain came.
