Elvaston's opening batsman Nick Briars included 21 fours and a six in his run-a-ball 113 n.o. which consigned Rolleston 1st X1 to their third defeat of the Derbyshire County Division One season. Invited to bat, the visitors lost openers Gareth Marshall (10) leg before and Paul Allen (6) caught at cover within twenty minutes of play. Right arm quickie Simon Lillie (4 for 27) piled on the pressure by bowling Ford (14) and forcing a leading edge from James (5) which home skipper Matt Archer snapped up at mid-off. When Tom Rutter (29) played back to off spinner Gareth Charlesworth and saw his wickets tumble, Rolleston were reeling on 68 for 5 after 20 overs.
Lillie trapped Scott Cobley leg before with the score still in double figures which brought overseas Zac Fried to the crease. His partnership with away skipper Alex Britton piled on 77 much needed runs over the next fifteen overs. Britton (56) smashed a full toss back on to the scorebox roof and notched seven boundaries before supplying Archer with his second catch of the day, this time at mid-on.
Fried (44) ran a host of singles and added four boundaries prior to fine edging Ian Hall (3 for 68) to wicketkeeper Lee Archer with the score on 191. Derbyshire over-50's representatives Dave Tee (14 n.o.) and Mark Bellm (6 n.o) chipped away and gave the visitors hope, closing on 213 for 9.
The reply immediately burst into life when Archer (31) launched into a series of cover drives earning him seven fours before he strayed from his crease and encouraged Ford to complete a stumping off Tee. The wicketkeeper then held on to a fine edge from Jake Harold to provide Britton with the second wicket but Elvaston's run rate was well above that required. The arrival of left hander Charlie Ault only served to increase the scoring rate, his first ball received dispatched for six. Both batsmen grew in confidence and struck forceful shots on all the away bowlers with the exception of Tee whose fifteen overs leaked just 26 runs and included five maidens.
Briars accumulated ten boundaries in his half-century which was passed in less than and hour. Ault smacked the same number, split evenly betwen fours and sixes but took one liberty too many with Fried and looked on as Marshall collected the catch at square leg. The same bowler benefited from a low bouncing delivery that broke Charlesworth stumps but Briars was unruffled, adding a six and a further eleven boundaries to speed through to an unbeated 113.
The game ended appropriately with yet another boundary from Briars who has now scored a century in each of his last three innings against Rolleston. The visitors returned with six points, Elvaston taking the honours with 22.
