Win at Ashford clinches promotion for Sheffield

Sheffield Collegiate won the toss and elected to field with Ashford reaching 29 before the fall of the first wicket.

Sam Ellis and Pete McGrath put on 55 for the fourth wicket until Ellis was out for 44.

McGrath was the next wicket to fall, having scored 36 with the score on 111-4, a series of batsmen then got to double figures but failed to push on for bigger scores and the innings closed on 173-7.

Collegiate used six bowlers with the pick being Mark Longley (3-48), Danny Pearson (2-18) and Rob Priestley (2-23).

Collegiate openers Chris Ash and Josh White looked rarely troubled in their innings despite a good opening spell from Joe Muir and Peter Marsden, who beat the bat a number of times without success.

The two openers patiently went about their task and were brutal with any wayward bowling which was despatched to the boundary with increasing regularity.

The target was reached in the 33rd over with Ash unbeaten on 94 and White unbeaten on 50.

Due to Calver suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Baslow, Collegiate and Calver finished on equal points in the chase for the second promotion spot in Division Two.

However, Sheffield Collegiate VPs finishd ahead of Calver on the basis of the number of points gained in the matches involving the two teams with total points, total wins and the number of defeats being equal.

Ashford finish the season only eight points above the relegation places and although a stronger batting display was evident last weekend, they need to look to strengthen their batting line-up to be real contenders next season for promotion.