Following yesterdays first victory Rolleston had every reason to be optimistic of another positive performance. Ticknall were flying high in the division after an inconsistent start to the season. Rolleston were asked to bat first and Alex Brown and Tom Yates took to the crease. Some accurate bowling from Parkes and aggression from Dolan proved difficult to get the score moving. Brown (5) became Parkes first victim with the score at 11. Joe Bellm (1) fell shortly after following some indecision and a run out. Steve Yates joined Tom and in typical belligerent style hit Dolan for four in his first few deliveries faced. A six and another four in Dolans next over to Yates senior pushed the score to 29 before Dolan got one to move away to S Yates (14), the keeper taking the catch behind. Tom Yates continued his patient approach as Steve Dolby (1) tried to keep the score moving before falling to Parkes. Dave Gallagher moved down the order joined Tom Yates (10) but just as Tom looked set to start to play some shots fell to his second LBW of the weekend. Alex Showell (24) and Dave Gallagher (23) then put together the innings biggest partnership of 33 before Gallagher became another LBW victim but not before Dave gained some much needed relief with some strong stroke play. Showell, Mick Clay (35) and Andy Cooper (9) dug in for 16 overs to push the score into 3 figures. Warren Cowell (0) fell quickly so it was left to the old heads of Clay and Trevor Foster (7no) to stretch the score to a modest 141. Parkes 14-6-16-2 and Hurt 14-3-47-4 being the pick of the Ticknall bowlers A stirring effort from the Rolleston batsmen which gave the bowlers something to try and defend.
Ticknall took to the challenge in confident mood but soon discovered that runs were not going to be easy to find. Despite an opening stand of 28 Rolleston soon started to put the Ticknall boys nerves on edge. Some typically accurate bowling from Cowell went unrewarded but soon put the home side behind the clock. Andy Cooper at the other end bowled with good pace for his single wicket haul but proved equally difficult to score off. The introduction of Trevor Foster soon paid dividends with 3 wickets in 4 overs as Ticknall collapsed from 28 for 0 to 42 for 4, Joe Bellm claiming a terrific diving catch at square leg. It should have been 5 wickets down as inexplicably Bunyan survived a clear run out before top scoring with 24, an innings which continued to keep the match evenly balanced. Tom Yates came into the attack in an attempt to take some pace off the ball and get the batsmen to play some shots. Foster continued his precision seam bowling and with Yates claiming 2 vital wickets a catch and a run out the match swung in Rollestons favour at 101 for 8 following two great catches from Foster and Dolby. Ticknall skipper Meakin (22no) and Parkes (18no) somehow survived the last 11 overs despite numerous loose shots and the frustration for Alex Showell of taking a wicket with a no-ball. Dolby and Showell couldn’t find the breakthrough Rolleston craved despite some heroic fielding. Ticknall inched closer to their target but closed the innings 5 runs short and a winning draw went to Rolleston to cap off a successful weekend. Cowell 10-2-23-0, Cooper 10-3-26-1, Foster 10-4-19-4, Yates 10-1-33-2, Showell 3-0-11-0 and Dolby 3-1-12-0 again doing the legwork. Special mention to Trevor Foster for a fantastic weekends bowling exhibition which yielded 19.2overs, 7 maidens, 41 runs and 9 wickets.
Ticknall 11pts Rolleston 14pts