Chesterfield in Control

Chesterfield completed an impressive win over Dunstall on a damp Queen’s Park ground to move into third place in the Derbyshire Premier Cricket League. After winning the toss, David Adams asked Dunstall to bat first in a match that had been reduced to 50 overs as a result of earlier rain.

Dunstall dug in against the hostile opening attack of Rahim Karim and Paul Goodwin with only 15 runs coming off the opening 11 overs. Paul Shaw and Jamie Benstead were just starting to get some momentum to the innings when Shaw, having just dispatched a six, fell to Kirk’s next ball as Ray Karim took a fine catch. That was with the score at 47 of which Shaw had made 33. When drinks came after 25 overs, Dunstall were on 70-1.

Runs flowed more easily in the second half of the innings, but lengthy spells from Adams and Simon Lacey kept Dunstall in check. When Carl Eyden (31) was run out following some smart fielding by Alan Gofton, Dunstall stood at 155-2 but with only 7.1 overs remaining.

Chesterfield continued to keep the game tight, and any chance Dunstall had of reaching 200 was eliminated with the return of Karim to the attack. Even a late effort at accelerating was hampered by the loss of three wickets in the final two overs including that of skipper Benstead who was caught on the boundary for 98 off the final ball of the innings.

A total of 187-5 seemed to afford Chesterfield every chance of a victory on a ground slowly drying out during a pleasant afternoon that was in sharp contrast to the weather forecast. Andy Brown was an early casualty, uncharacteristically chasing one outside his off stump, but Dean Hopkinson (21) and Adams (23) pushed the score along. At the other end, Alan Gofton (54) kept things going in a steady but stylish fashion.

Gofton cutting for a couple on his way to a stylish half century

Chesterfield were always up with the required run rate and this progress was maintained with the arrival of Lacey (50*) who worked the field well in a partnership of 67 before Gofton was replaced by Alex Hibbert (17*). With only 34 required in 12 overs and wickets in hand, the result was not in much doubt.

Dunstall did stem the flow for a few overs but some forcing shots saw Chesterfield home more than four overs to spare. Lacey’s winning single brought up his second half century for his new club and was instrumental in the presentation to him of the VK Vodka Kick Man-of-the-Match.

Skipper David Adams was pleased at the way the team performed to achieve their second league win of the season. “I’m glad that the weather was kind to us today,” said a relieved Adams, “as we’ve been able to build on a solid performance against Ockbrook last week. We’ve got good spirit, a good coach and a good blend of players. The important thing is to keep building on our performances.”

Chesterfield expect a tough game next week as Sawley and Long Eaton Park seek to avenge their recent defeat at Queen’s Park in a Derbyshire Building Society Premier Cup preliminary round match. With the points from their fine win at Quarndon on Saturday, Sawley would be ahead of Chesterfield in the Premier table were it not for penalty points deducted and will be looking to make home advantage pay in what has suddenly become something close to a top-of-the-table encounter. For Chesterfield, it will be back to building on the performance against Dunstall.