In a low scoring Division One home fixture, Rolleston 1st XI suffered a 23 run defeat to a Rolls Royce side only recently relegated from the Derbyshire Premier League.
The guests were invited to bat and, in only the second over of the match, youngster Andrew Cooper (2 for 41) trapped skipper Waseem Mohammed (5) leg before, heralding the arrival of fourteen year old Rahib Ali to the crease. His gritty one hour partnership of 31 with Sahd Shafiq (19) ended in John Thomson’s third over when the opener was caught by Scott Cobley at second slip. Ali (19) left the scene in identical fashion in JT’s next over and Rolls Royce struggled to the mid-point drinks interval on 54 for 3.
R.S.Haider became JT’s third victim, lbw in the thirtieth over, bringing ex-Dunstall player, Naeem Akhtar (8) to the middle. The hard-hitting all-rounder twice bludgeoned Cooper to the boundary but misjudged the next delivery and played-on to his stumps. Alex Britton (3 for 33) and JT (3 for 18) then joined forces in a ten over spell in which the visitors accumulated just 15 runs, whilst losing the wickets of Shabbir (24) and Atiq Bhatti (0) to Britton, bowled and caught at extra cover respectively. Amarjit Singh (18 no) arrived to give the innings a much needed injection of urgency. His knock included a huge six over the sightscreens and clawed the final total to what appeared a modest 145 for 8.
In reply, openers Michael James (26) and Gareth Marshall (6) shared a twelve over partnership of 26 which was broken by ex-Harrogate pace bowler Shahzada Khan (6 for 29) when Marshall’s pads prevented the removal of his wickets. The former Yorkshire County Premier League bowler proceeded to bowl both Ford (0) and James in his next two overs, the latter receiving one that kept a shade low.
A determined fourth wicket stand of 46 between Tom Rutter (33) and Paul Allen (27) was approaching the hour mark when a Khan delivery climbed up on Rutter, the bowler taking the return catch prior to dismissing Mark James (1) in his next over. Akhtar (2 for 27) pinned Britton leg before and had Cobley caught at mid-on whilst R.S.Haider (2 for 17) bowled Bowering (11) to heap pressure on the home side at 115 for 8 – five overs remaining.
Allen’s excellent two-hour vigil was finally curtailed when Haider again hit the target, leaving tail-enders Cooper and Thomson to bravely battle against the returning opening strike-force. As an ominous rumble of thunder filled the skies, Khan sealed victory with a flash of lightning that sent Thomson’s wickets crashing to ground.
The visitors gained a maximum twenty seven points, with their hosts closing on 122 all out and earning just four points, despite a number of commendable performances.
