Thanks to Roy for a write up on the amazing match last Saturday :

Wirksworth & Middleton 1stXI v Ockbrook and Borrowash 2nd XI
at Wirksworth on 1 August 2026

In this remarkable match two batters from W&MCC scored centuries. It may be that people with longer memories than I can recall another occasion.

W&MCC 309/6 v Ockbrook & Borrowash 206/8.

Zane Gilder opened for W&MCC with Ben Burrell and their opening partnership was broken with the score at 20.

For the second wicket W&MCC built a stand of 166.

Zane Gilder, from Australia, scored 113,
from 127 balls, in 168 minutes with 18 fours

Tom Wanford from Derby Road, Wirksworth scored 111,
from 81 balls in 84 minutes with 13 fours and two sixes.

Zane, with nearly 800 runs for the club this season batted through till nearly the close of innings. In the O&B knock Zane took four wickets. Well done.

Tom played a wonderful attacking innings blazing with shots, classic drives and brutal hooks to the short ball. It was an innings of the highest class, hardly a mishit. The ball hit the middle of Tom’s bat with a persuasive ring and the ball raced to the boundary over the parched outfield once the inner ring had been shredded. Oddly both he and Zane were stumped.

Tom is a high class batter fit to stand with the ancients, whose qualities stand strong in our memories. His grandfather, Brian Wanford, would have relished his aggressive style.

Some spectators got excited in case W&MCC made over 300. A tornado innings by Elliot Poplar (43 off 31) ensured that they did.

The result was never in doubt, but the O&B consolation was full batting points for scoring 200.

Questions.
1 When did W&MCC last make over 300?
2. When, if ever, did two batters make centuries in the same Wirksworth innings. Let me know.

Roy Pearce 2 August 2026

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