WITH just a losing draw on the cards from the previous week, an outright win would see Butterley leapfrog up the league table, but this just wasn't to be in a frustratingly low scoring match at home against Ambergate.
On a typically soft early season wicket, Butterley won the toss and decided to bowl. Wickets started to fall and with the score at just 17 runs for 3, a low total looked almost certain.
Ambergate dug deep and managed to hold it together in the mid
dle order, eventually being dismissed for 106 runs from 43 overs.
Commendable bowling performances came from Chris Knighton 4-21 off 11 overs and from Chris Barber with 3-29 off 8.
Butterley began the chase and it became quite apparent early on that the wicket was not going to afford the home team the same even bounce it did for the visitors.
This did not excuse the poor top order performance, managing only 19 runs between the top six batsmen. It was left to Chris Barber to spare the blushes, top scoring with 22 runs, before his side were eventually bowled out for just 79 runs from 37.2 overs.
Butterley 1st XI are looking to redress their recent below-par performances this week, with an away double-header against Staveley on Saturday and Selston on Sunday.
Butterley 2nd XI had similar problems to the 1st XI on Saturday, with the lower order providing the mainstay of the batting. Chasing a total of 148, Greg Brittain top scored with 46 runs and the team eventually ended heartbreakingly close to a losing draw, losing with just 2 balls left. The 2nd XI also hope to raise their game next week with a home double-header against Little Eaton on Saturday and Nutbrook on Sunday.
The full article contains 304 words and appears in Ripley & Heanor News newspaper.
