Dunstall were put to the sword in the field as Alfreton piled on a healthy 256 for 9 from their 50 overs.

And although the hosts had high hopes of surpassing that target on a friendly track, Alfreton used the new ball to excellent effect, snapping up early wickets and never allowing any batting partnership to develop.

Alfreton lost the toss and were asked to bat first - and Dunstall made an early breakthrough when South African paceman Lucian Simpson bowled Will Challoner for a duck with only one run on the board.

But thereafter Simpson and fellow opening bowler Craig Jennings never really found a consistent line or length, and Mace was eager to punish anything wayward.

Dunstall were not helped when Matt Benstead suffered a hamstring injury and wicket keeper John Jennings a dislocated finger.

Craig Jennings did bowl Nish Makwana for 15 in the 13th over with the score on 52, but by then Mace was well and truly into his stride, well supported at the other end by John Aspinall.

The pair added 137 for the third wicket with Mace the dominant partner, although he did survive just after his half-century when wicket keeper John Jennings failed to hold on from an outside edge.

Aspinall finally succumbed for a patient 47 after lobbing Martin Clewley’s delivery to long off where Paul Shaw held the catch.

Off-spinner Clewley then put the brakes on Alfreton’s run chase and when he had Mace caught by Craig Jennings for a cavalier 108 off 120 deliveries, including eight fours and three towering sixes, with a huge total looking on the cards, it signalled the start of three strikes in four balls.

From 199 for 4 at Mace’s departure, it became 210 for 7, but Alfreton had one more ace up their sleeve.

That came in the shape of Christopher Watt, who faced just 17 deliveries - six of which sent clearing the boundary ropes in a swashbuckling unbeaten 44.

At tea Dunstall were grateful to Clewley’s 6 for 63 off 10 overs for restricting Alfreton to a seemigly chaseable 256 for 9.

But Dunstall’s reply was soon in trouble with Shaw losing his off stump for a duck at the end of the first over to Farhad Masood and still no runs on the board.

Oliver Reynolds found enough swing to dislodge Matt Gouldstone for nine and, although Jamie Benstead at the other end twice hit Peter Groves for four, he tried one too many and Groves bowled him for 31.

Dunstall were already behind the asking rate, and although Carl Eyden and Matt Benstead, batting with a runner, looked capable of providing the big fourth wicket stand they required, they were unable to improve the tempo.

And a partnership of 53 ended when Benstead sent Watt’s off spin into the hands of the waiting Mace at extra cover.

That left Dunstall requiring 162 off 19 overs with six wickets standing.

It was too much, and the home side cut their losses, losing just two more wickets as they were content to bat out for a losing draw at 182 for 6.

ALFRETON

N. Makwana b C.