Mitch boys hit back in style with big chase

THEY say a week is a long time in politics – well, up at South Wingfield, they are entitled to think it's a pretty long time in cricket, too.

Last week, the club's second team suffered the humiliation of being bowled out for 19 and watching their opponents, Clay Cross, complete victory in less than three overs.

This week, it looked like they might be in for another hammering, as Heanor Town's seconds piled up 249-3, with centuries for Andy Matthews and Paul Barlow.

But that's when their fortunes turned around.

South Wingfield's largely young side, led by the seasoned Andy Mitchell (pictured), picked themselves off the floor and knocked off the runs with five wickets and three overs to spare.

One remarkable statistic was that Stuart Gibbs top-scored for South Wingfield in last week's defeat and this week's victory.

Last week, that score was four. This week, it was 82, with six fours and five sixes.

Openers Liam Mather (47) and Nicky Marshall (38) got their side off to a good start and Mark Dance, smashed for 80 runs from his 12 overs, finished 39 not out when victory was achieved.

“We had all had a bit of stick about the previous week, especially me,” said Mitchell.

“I can't believe how many references to Paul Hardcastle's song 'n-n-n- Nineteen' I heard.

“Saturday's game was never going to be easy because, if we had failed to an unacceptable level again, we really would have been the butt of many a joke

“When Heanor were 240-1, I was thinking what to say in the team talk to five juniors and five who'd like to see 40 again!

“We had a chat and decided to have a positive go at winning it. We rode our luck with a few dropped catches but it compensated for the luck we missed out on the previous week.”