ASHBOURNE travelled to Ilkeston on Saturday and lost to Nutbrook, a team buoyed by their cup final success against high flying Derby Congs the previous Sunday.
The home team won the toss and predictably elected to bowl, but George Roe and Greg Fletcher looked in little trouble and took the score to 46 before Roe was bowled by Brooks for an elegant 31, which had included seven classy boundaries.
Unfortunately for Ashbourne, his opening partner Fletcher also soon departed and Ashbourne were 46-2.
James Goddard and Will Tomkinson then put on 50 important runs for their side before Tomkinson was bowled by the accurate Henshaw for 24.
Despite the promising start, three quick wickets then fell and all the earlier hard work had been wasted, Witham accounting for Shaw, Hill and Fryer.
James Goddard continued to bat sensibly before being adjudged lbw for a gutsy 38, with the total at 143.
Richard Bates added 20 useful runs batting at number eight, but Ashbourne could only post a disappointing final total of 153 before the final wicket of Tiano fell in the 46th over.
Mark Witham returned brilliant final figure of 5-25 from 10 overs of seemingly innocuous off-spin.
Goring and Henshaw both bowled economical spells for their side returning figures of 14-1 and 39-2, while A Brookes took two wickets for 46 from 10.3 overs.
Witham and Wilson began confidently when Nutbrook began their run chase after tea, but in spite of this, Andy Hill’s first four overs only went for five runs.
However, it was not to be Will Tomlinson’s day with the ball and he was taken off having bowled only four overs, suffering an injured shoulder.
Anthony Shaw removed Witham in his second over thanks to a stunning catch by Chris Tiano at square leg, the unfortunate batsman looking aghast as he and everyone else on the pitch thought he had produced a perfectly struck boundary.
From 48-1, it became 68-2 when Roe caught Brooks at mid-off, Shaw again the successful bowler.
John Wilson was however proving to be an immovable object at one end, following his impressive work with the wicketkeeping gloves earlier in the day.
When Chris Fryer removed Haywood and Lever in quick succession, Ashbourne appeared to have a foot in the door, as at 91-4 Nutbrook were wobbling a little bit.
However, the door was not to burst open for Ashbourne as Craig Wilson came in and batted perfectly for his side at number six.
He and his obdurate partner took Nutbrook to a comfortable six-wicket victory, the winning runs coming off the final ball of the 34th over.
John Wilson remained unbeaten on 77 not out, Craig Wilson 28 not out.
Shaw took 2-39 from nine overs, Fryer 2-28 from five overs.
Andy Hill had enjoyed no luck whatsoever with the ball, bowling 12 overs for only 39 runs as Nutbrook took 22 points from the game, and Ashbourne took five.
Ashbourne have two league fixtures this weekend as they first entertain Brailsford on Saturday and then Derby Congs on Sunday, with both of their games starting at 1pm.
