South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Indian overseas Samrat Sharma’s first game for Gedling and Sherwood proved to be a successful one as his 67 helped chase down Southwell’s 165 to put the winners joint top in Division A. The defeat marred David Coote’s return to Southwell after spending the best part of a decade at neighbours Collingham.

Joining Gelding at the helm are Long Eaton and Attenborough. Long Eaton’s Andy Edge was unbeaten on 99 at the close and together with Umar Hassan who chipped in with 52 set Newstead Village a challenging 210 for victory. Despite 66 from Paul Nott, the visitors fell short on 165. Attenborough had Martin Rayner and South African Craig Woods taking three wickets apiece in their comfortable eight wicket win at home to Balderton (143).

Keyworth are up and running and once again Unity Casuals were on the wrong end of a last over finish. Ex Cavalier Monty Douglas hit 78 and Zahid Iqbal 62 as Unity posted a testing 220. Australian Grant Parker fired 87 in reply and twelve runs were required for victory off the final over. Rob Baker hit a six but was then dismissed, but step forward Doug Bayford who struck the necessary two runs off the final delivery.

Calverton put their nightmare start behind them and fifties from Richard Lee and Billy Armstrong ensured a five wicket success at home to Radcliffe (180).

Chanceless it certainly wasn’t but George Webber’s 77 gave Loughborough Carillon the early impetus in their Division B game at home to Bottesford. Wickets fell in mid innings then Richard Billam (40) and Sunil Appan (31) shared a useful sixth wicket stand which brought a final total of 222. Club stalwart Darren Cliff (3 for 39) was the pick of the Bottesford attack yet the visitors must have been reflecting on what might have been had they taken held on to some of the half dozen catches they spilled.

Bottesford’s reply was a surreal experience. Caution was certainly at the forefront of the openers minds as they trudged along to 10 off the first 11 overs. Some indifferent bowling then aided Adam Trigwell (73) and Mike Fowler (47) to accumulate some easy runs and the stage was set for an exciting finish with the score at 107 for 1 with 18 overs remaining. However, despite losing only Fowler soon after the visitors shut up shop and settled for a losing draw. Having lost the services of Ablewhite, Warburton and Claricoates from 2007 it could well be a difficult season ahead.

Rolls Royce Leisure, many peoples pre season favourites for promotion at least, have made a terrible start and it will not want to Eastwood Town again in a hurry. The winners followed up last weeks victory against the same team by dismissing them for just 91, Dean Blake the star with 6 for 28. In reply Stephen Leese’s unbeaten 47 saw the home side through without too many qualms.

Eastwood share top spot with Belvoir (206) who had their own six wicket hero in Tony Dyer. His 6 for 52 ensured defeat for Kimberley II (100).  Steve Betteridge, after a quiet 2007 found form with 104 for Kirkby Portland. Together with skipper Steve Richardson (62) they set hosts a daunting 267 for victory).  Eddie Pidduck responded with a 41 ball 50 but they were kept in check by the spin of Gary Devonshire (6 for 50) as Kirkby went back to North Notts with a winning draw.

In Division C, Collingham and Hucknall share top spot after comfortable victories  over Plumtree II and Bramcote respectively. However, most of the talk in this league is of the new look Hyson Green Carrington Caribs.

After agonisingly missing out on promotion on the final day of last season, Caribs have acquired some quality players to ensure they make no mistake this time round. One of these, Muhammed Ihtshan scored 106 to add to his 81 last week as Nottingham were put to the sword at the old Police ground. Rehan Iqbal (67) and Kaseef Bukari (49) also weighed in as the home side racked up an insurmountable 310.

The two newly promoted clubs, Radcliffe II and Fiskerton  met and the latter will be rueing their slump from 101 for 1 off 16 overs to 193 all out  as 16 year old spinner George Mason reaped rewards taking 6 for 44. Fiskerton failed to use their allocated overs and victory was achieved for Radcliffe in the fourth additional over thanks in the main to 82 from Michael Bratt.

Attenborough II are currently mirroring the success of their first team in D. A five wicket haul for Arjan Singh and four from veteran Bryan Aplin were the catalysts behind their six wicket victory at Risley (77).

A thrilling finish unravelled at Newark with the home side, requiring seven runs to win managed only the five resulting in a win for Thurgarton for whom Phil Allcock and the prolific Colin Cliff struck half centuries.

Poor Dave King of Stanton by Dale has now snaffled ten victims in two games, but has finished on the losing side on each occasion. On Saturday, despite his efforts, Wollaton II (151) got past the finishing post  with five wickets intact thanks to John Christiansen (37*), Jawaid Maqbool (36) and Andy Crossley (35*).

Nuthall are making all the headlines in E as they again polished off a side before tea.  This time it was Calverton II who were on the wrong end of a 53 score line, Adrian Marsh (4 – 11) and Rod Sanders (3 – 13) being the chief perpetrators.

It was another good day at the office for James Wookey of Southwell II who added four victims to his seven wickets the previous week as his side thrashed Farndon (110) by 116 runs.

Chris Briggs of Underwood hit the division’s only century, Long Eaton II in reply slumped to 70 all out, Underwood climb to second.

After an inconsistent 2007 Ellerslie II have made a decent start in F. Their latest success came against much fancied Hoveringham (167), the winners passing their target thanks to 63 from Asif Haq and 57 from Michael Day.  Kinoulton are another team who have a 100% record to date, the consistent Steve Harling (46*) seeing his team to victory at Eastwood Town II (143).

The shock in G came at Gotham II where an under strength home side finally ended Oxton’s winning run. The visitors could only manage 64 as Mohammed Nazi (4 - 9) and Ted Nettleship (3 - 13) created havoc. There were a few nervy moments in the run chase thanks to Mike Berry (3 - 11) but Gotham got home with four wickets to spare.

Elsewhere in G the plaudits went to Rob Britton of Kirkby Portland II. His superb knock of 146 saw his team surpass a huge 238 at home to defeat Beeston Sycamore II. 

In H, another fine display from Ben Lambourne (47 and 5 – 42) saw his Whatton and Aslockton  team squeeze past Gedling and Sherwood II (155) with just two wickets remaining. Elsewhere Loughborough Carillon II (237 for 8) put their opening day defeat behind them, thrashing Edingley (147) by 90 runs with Australian Ben Webb (82) and Nitant Deasi (4 – 21) the heroes.

In J a record partnership of 233 between M Whyatt (148*) and Jim Lees (104*) of Basford Hall OB saw the visitors post a daunting 304 at Rolls Royce II. Andy Carden hit 53 in reply but the home side came a poor second on 185.

James Wilson of newcomers Bingham was the proud owner of figures of 6 for 5 as struggling Stapleford collapsed to 88 in pursuit of 144.

Willoughby II were in deep trouble at 42 for 5 at Clifton Village III in Division K. However middle order batsman Peter Kay had the last laugh as his 78, together with Ali Day (53) ensured the visitors posted a match winning 228.

Caunton have struggled in the past couple of seasons. Yet the smiles may be returning as they head the table, James McIntyre top scoring with 77 in his teams 19 run success at home to Woodborough (161).

Lambley II began life in L with a defeat however fifteen year old James Starbuck’s five wicket haul got them on the winning trail in a close encounter at home to Thrumpton II. Also in L Mehtab Ahmed hit the divisions highest score (111*) as his Wilsons II side cruised to success against Stanton by Dale II.

Newark II could only manage 54 at Plumtree III in Division M. One could only wonder what they would have achieved without J O’ Leary who contributed 40. Plumtree III knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets, thanks in the main to Ross Crombie (38*).

Mark Fish of Fiskerton II  was dismissed for 99 last week. There was no mistake this time round however as Fish smacked 123 out of 233, ensuring an easy win at home to Lowdham II.

It was a day to remember for Ewan Skelhan  for Notts Unity Casuals III in Division P. The 13 year old, playing his first ever game in senior cricket struck an unbeaten 57, which helped his side to a 98 run success over Collingham III (95). 

Wymeswold II have made a good start too, Nathan Stephenson made 71 as his side overcame Radcliffe III (125) by seven wickets.

In R, Beeston Sycamore III (110 for 9) just came out on top in a thrilling encounter at home to East Leake II . This was despite the efforts of Nick Pick (50) and James Whitchurch (4 for 30). Finally, Eastwood Town III’s first ever game ended in a resounding victory at Thrumpton III (80)