Uttoxeter Online Magazine

Uttoxeter Captain Walmsley won the toss and elected to bat on a slightly tricky looking wicket in a bid to secure maximum points against a struggling Ashbourne side.

It looked to be a good decision with Rob Birch guiding the first ball to the boundary, Birches delight was to be short lived as he had tweaked something in his back and immediately had to leave the field.

Pete Atwell and Tony Hayes did a good job seeing off the new ball with the former unlucky to only amass 4. Atwell had done his job well and set a platform for the aggressive Bailey (82) to build on. His unique style saw him race to 50 with more than able support from Hayes (70), who also passed his 50, with his more textbook style guiding the ball into the gaps. After a 134 run partnership both fell in quick succession trying to really push the scoring on to give Uttoxeter the best chance of winning.

Whitehead and Mellor both got starts but never really adjusted to the pace of the wicket. The middle orders quick demise allows skipper Walmsley and the star of the day Adam Cottier to come together and add some very quick runs a 66 run partnership off just 7 overs.

Cottier looked in the form of his life, easily guiding the ball around as well as smashing some huge 6s with one Nightingale over costing for 20! Walmsley played a supporting role at the other end but still managed a few lusty blows of his own.

With the score on 249 after 37 the skipper decided that was enough and called time on the innings giving his side 55 overs to bowl Ashbourne out.  Unfortunately the early declaration left Cottier stranded on 44 not out.

The bowling got off to a steady start with the Ashbourne openers struggling to get Skelham and Dave Hunt away. With a big score to chase and the pressure building it was only ever going to go in Uttoxeter’s favour and Hunt soon a had the first victim, bowling Tiano with a yorker.

The star with the ball however was Cottier who replaced Hunt; he bowled with supreme control and caused all the batsman trouble.  The pick of his wickets were the two wickets in two balls bowling both batsman around their legs with big in swingers. His display with the ball was excellent and topped his great day with the bat!  Cottier finished with figures 6-20.

All the other bowlers chipped in with Bennett, Walmsley and Skelham picking up a wicket each, the later looked to have found some of his old pace bowling a very hostile spell with several of the Ashbourne players picking up blows towards the end of the Ashbourne innings!

The game was a great team effort with everyone involved but the performance of the day belonged to Adam Cottier with his excellent 44 not out and 6 -20 with the ball.

Cottier has been brought up through the Uttoxeter Junior sides and it is fantasic to see him now performing for the 1st team!

Uttoxeter take on top of the table Ockbrook and Borrowash on Saturday in a game which will be starting early (11:30am) to accommodate the England v USA world cup game.