Derbyshire Over 50 Squad 2011

Back row: Alistair Stevens, Shaun Beck, Duncan Smith, Barry White, Clive Crocker, Mark Bellm

Front row: Rob Dumelow, Steve Ottewell, Dave Tee, Harry Cartwright, Dick Owen

Tuesday 20th September 2011

Derbyshire regain Over-50’s championship title

In a tense and dramatic final held at Wormsley, Derbyshire regained the ECB 50+ County Championship title that they last won in 2009, by defeating Kent by 6 runs.  The trophy was clinched off the penultimate ball when, needing seven runs from two deliveries, Kent’s Kevin Masters holed out to Steve Ottewell on the long-on boundary.

Earlier in the day Kent won the toss and, with the forecast of possible rain, invited Derbyshire to bat.  Openers Richard Merriman and Ray McGuinness built a solid foundation and, against tight bowling, took the score to 79 before the latter was adjudged LBW for a dogged 39.  Seeking to accelerate the score, in-form skipper Dave Tee soon perished in the deep, before Neil Sparham (24) and Merriman (45) added 32 for the third wicket.  Both batsmen then departed in quick succession, leaving Derbyshire at 116-4.  Rob Dumelow and Alistair Stevens put on a quickfire 16 before Dumelow offered a catch to Staples.  In the 39th over Phil Hearne snicked a short ball to keeper Gunning off the returning Masters and, two balls later, Stevens (12) followed him to the pavilion after having his stumps uprooted, leaving Derbyshire at a precarious 134-7.

Mark Bellm then joined Steve Ottewell in what turned out to be one of the game’s turning points.  The pair mixed quick running with controlled aggression, putting on 48 runs in the final six overs, to close the innings at 182-7, with Bellm unbeaten on 29 and Ottewell contributing a useful 13 not out.  On a track that only offered moderate assistance to the bowlers, Derbyshire’s total looked well below par. 

Following lunch, Derbyshire’s ever reliable opening pair of Ottewell and Barry White quickly found their line and length, the latter being rewarded by trapping Gunning in front with the score on 15.  It was then Ottewell’s turn to get Taylor caught by Phil Hearne and Swadkin taken down the leg-side by Dick Owen, the batsman graciously walking after the umpire failed to raise his finger.  The resolute Scroggins (24) then played on to Ottewell, leaving Kent reeling at 39-4.  With Ottewell and White completing their nine over spells for 23 and 14 runs respectively, Kent then took advantage of the change bowlers by progressing the score to 84 before Keess (23) gave a catch to Dave Tee off the bowling of Neil Sparham.  The sixth wicket partnership then took the score on to 129 before Phillips (43) gave Tee his second catch – this time off Merriman. 

The often destructive Staples gave the tumbling Hearne his second catch at deep backward square leg off Merriman again, leaving Kent on 133-7.  By this time twelfth man Clive Crocker had come on for Stevens who had landed awkwardly on the ball when athletically stopping a boundary bound shot from Prior.  Indeed, it wasn’t long before Crocker himself got involved in the action, by pulling his hamstring whilst fielding on the boundary.  Minutes later, Prior decided to take on the injured substitute fielder by turning blind for a second run, only to see Crocker launch his throw into the gloves of Dick Owen, who removed the bails with Prior comfortably short. 

Two overs later Tee trapped Edwards on the back foot, leaving Kent struggling on 148-9 and seemingly out of the contest, with 35 runs still required.  However, skipper Masters was still at the crease and he found support from last man Mendham.  With the required rate up to eight an over, the pair advanced towards their target and took the game into the penultimate over with 16 required for an unlikely victory.  With a bye and a swept four coming from the first two balls, Sparham fought back so that the over only cost six runs, although the contest would have ended then had a chance not been dropped on the edge of the 30 yard circle .  With ten runs wanted from the last over, bowled by leg-spinner Merriman, the first four balls yielded just three singles.  Requiring at least one boundary from the last two balls, Masters (43) connected with the fifth delivery to send the ball sailing towards the long-on boundary, where it was met just inside the ropes, and pouched, by the sprinting Ottewell, to secure Derbyshire’s second trophy win in three years.

Whilst the game did not produce the expected run-fest, it nonetheless proved to be an absorbing contest played in an extremely competitive but sporting manner.  Derbyshire played ten games to get to the final, a number of which went to the wire, and it was this experience that ultimately helped them to defend their modest total.

Commiserations go to Kent, and in particular to their battling skipper Masters and the sporting Swadkin, who were a credit to the final.

By Mark Bellm

Tuesday 6th September 2011

Over 50s win Semi Final against Warwickshire

The game was played at Leamington, a large and excellent ground and after early rain Warwickshire won the toss and decided to bat. Steve Ottewell and Barry white then combined to bowl excellent opening spells which soon had the home side in real trouble at 20 for 3 after two smartly taken catches from Malc Mason and Alan Hampshire. David Hawkes, however, batting at 4 played a most positive innings of 72 which laid the foundation of their final total of 233 for 6 on a good cricket wicket which offered a little seam and spin.

In reply, Alan Hampshire went early and a steady partnership of 78 between Ray McGuinness and David Tee set up a run chase. The former went leg before for 48 and when Neil Sparaham was caught on the mid wicket boundary for 18, Warwickshire sniffed an opening. Rob Dumelow joined Tee in a partnership that proved decisive before being bowled for 45 off 41 balls which included one towering six into a nearby garden.

Phil Hearne then accompanied Tee to a winning run chase of 234 for 4 with Tee not out on 88 which included 2 sixes and 8 fours, his fourth consecutive score of over 60.

This win means for the second time in 3 years the county veteran side have made it through to the showpiece event which this year will be held at Wormsley, home of the Getty family on Sunday September 18th starting at 11.

By Dave Tee

Friday 10th June 2011

Comfortable win for Derbyshire Over-50s

DERBYSHIRE Over-50s captain Dave Tee was the star of the show as his team completed a comfortable win over Nottinghamshire.

Best known for his economical spin bowling, Tee smashed his first century for the team, going in at number three in a game reduced to 30 overs a side by the weather.​

Put in by Notts, Derbyshire had an early setback when the consistent Harry Cartwright suffered a rare failure, bowled for 10.

Tee went in at three and shared stands of 50 with Shaun Beck (35) and 60 with Rob Dumelow.

But when Alistair Stevens joined Tee, they really went to town, plundering a remarkable 92 from the last seven overs, during which Tee completed his century.

He finished on 112 not out, from 72 balls, with two sixes and 15 fours, while Stevens finished on 32 not out in a total of 219-3.

Notts had almost reached a target of 280 in their previous match, so there were no guarantees, but Mark Bellm took a wicket with his fourth ball and tight opening spells from he and Barry White put the batting side on the back foot.

Tee had Notts' other opener leg before and when Colin Taylor began to turn the ball appreciably, there was not much doubt about the result.

It scarcely mattered that Derbyshire did not take another wicket, as Notts fell well short at 152-2.

Next up for the team is a home game against Lancashire at Ockbrook & Borrowash CC on Wednesday, June 22 (1.30pm).

Thursday 9th June 2011

Derbyshire Over 50s win over Cheshire

Tuesday 31st May 2011

Cartwright hits ton as over 50s bounce back with big win

DERBYSHIRE'S over-50s cricketers bounced back from a heavy defeat against Yorkshire to thrash Northumberland by nine wickets at Brailsford this week. Derbyshire skipper Dave Tee won the toss and put Northumberland in and, on a good batting track, with a fast outfield, they prospered, reaching 233-9 from their 45 overs. It might have been more but for a brilliant run out, with a direct hit from fine leg, by Rolls-Royce's Malc Mason, which accounted for the visiting side's hard-hitting number three. Alvaston & Boulton's Steve Ottewell, on his over-50s debut, Sawley's Barry White and Tee each took two wickets.

However, Derbyshire's batsmen soon made the conditions look even more favourable for batting as they charged to victory. Former Derbyshire man Harry Cartwright was in terrific form as he and Alistair Stevens put on 140 for the first wicket. When Stevens went for 67, Ticknall's Rob Dumelow took up the baton, sharing an unbroken stand of 95 with Cartwright. When the target was reached, Dumelow was two short of a half-century, with Carwright unbeaten on 101.

The over-50s are at home again on Wednesday, playing old rivals Cheshire at Ticknall CC (1pm).

Tuesday 1st March 2011

Derbyshire Over 50's 2011 Programme

Derbyshire Cricket Board Over 50’s are aiming to strengthen their squad for the forthcoming season and are looking for new players to register their interest.  Players must be 50 or over when participating in any match and must be bona-fide members of a club situated in Derbyshire and that club must be affiliated to the ECB through the DCB.  All players must have been resident in the UK for the two years prior to the commencement of the current season. 

Details of this year’s fixtures are attached.  The fixture computer has given us a tough start with an opening game away at Yorkshire.  So that we can hit the ground running, we have provisionally booked indoor nets at Chellaston School, Derby  on Saturday 2 April (2 – 4pm) and Sunday 3 April (10am – 12noon).  We’ve arranged a friendly at home to Staffs on Wednesday 11 May and there’s also a possibility of having a practice match in early May.  

Interested players are asked to email the following details to Mark Bellm (mark@bellm.co.uk): Name, date of birth, club, mobile phone number, together with their availability for the net sessions.  Players will be invited to one of the two sessions, based on their availability and preference.

                Click on button to view the Over 50's 2011 calendar  

Wednesday 22nd December 2010

2010 Derbyshire Over 50s Team

DCB Over 50's reach quarter finals

Reigning county champions DCB Over 50's lost away at Kent in the 2010 quarter finals of the ECB 50+ County Championship.  After qualifying from their eight-team group along with Lancashire and Yorkshire, DCB eased to victory against Leicestershire & Rutland in the last 16 before bowing out to Kent.

Derbyshire Over 50s Manager:

If you would like to be involved with the Derbyshire Over 50’s team in 2011 please contact Mark Bellm mark@bellm.co.uk