Cricket: Uttoxeter's push for title is based on strength in depth

UTTOXETER hit the top of the Division Seven South table, with strength in depth helping to secure a 72-run victory over lowly Rolleston.

With usual openers Tom Wheeldon and Andy Gagie both unavailable, Tony Hayes was promoted up the order alongside the returning Sean Coates after skipper Jon Walmsley won the toss and elected to bat.

Coates looked a little out of touch and was soon bowled for four by the tidy Warren Cowell. The incoming Mike Brewster was not able to hang around long either. Brewster failed to adapt to a very slow pitch and soon followed Coates back after registering a duck.

Hayes stood firm at the other end and proved to be the rock Uttoxeter needed. Ian Bailey was the next man in and hit a useful 21 to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Just as Bailey began to look settled, the pitch got the better of him and he mistimed straight to Louis Burrows off Alex Showell.

When Marcus Mellor joined Hayes, Uttoxeter were on 59-3 in the 14th over and a competitive score looked like a tough ask.

But Hayes and Mellor batted brilliantly – the slow outfield forcing them to sprint between the wickets for most of their 100-run partnership.

When Hayes departed for 76 – with Uttoxeter's total up to 166 – the Racecourse Ground side still had a lot of work to do.

Tim Powell hit a quick-fire 18 before he was bowled. Walmsley wasn't around for long, while Adam Cottier looked in good form for his 11 before finding a fielder with nice-looking shot.

Mellor continued to stand firm at the other end and finished the innings unbeaten on 77 with Uttoxeter setting a target of 226 from their 46 overs.

In the field, Uttoxeter started well but the extra pace generated by Skelham and Walmsley compared to the Rolleston bowlers made run-scoring a little easier.

After good opening spells with no reward, Walmsley chose to slow the pace down and Alan Bennett and Adam Cottier were brought into the attack.

Both bowled with great control, scoring became difficult and the pressure began to tell on the Rolleston batsmen.

Cottier was rewarded for his tidy bowling with the first wicket when Ed Browne took a sharp catch behind the stumps to dismiss Mark Chalkley. Soon after Cottier bowled Cobway before Alan Bennett had David Gallagher well caught by Sean Coates out on the boundary.

The Bennett/Coates combination struck again when Coates claimed a slightly easier catch. Tim Powell was then brought into the attack. He caused trouble with his off spinners, then changed up to medium pace and bowled Alex Brown.

Skelham returned to the attack and his extra pace proved too much for the Rolleston lower order. Once Skelham found some reward, he was unstoppable – removing two of the lower order in a fiery spell.

Skelham finished off the innings and sealed the win by removing Brett Cobley and Foster in the same over to return figures of 4-34.