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Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report Saturday 23 August 2008 By Phil Johnson The prize of a place in the Premier League in 2009 goes to the pre season dark horses of Attenborough who gained sufficient points in a winning draw at Southwell to secure a first spell in the top flight. It has been an impressive team effort from the champions, particularly with the bat. However it is probably not a good idea to drop Alec McKinlay without scoring and then again just before he cuts loose. Yet that’s what the home side managed to achieve and McKinlay made them pay with 112 out of 172. For Southwell, skipper Dave Rimmer, Ted Behl and Stephen Wright each grabbed three wickets apiece. After tea, it was left to skipper and occasional bowler Andrew Simkiss to take 6 for 15 as Southwell held on for the last five overs to close on 127 for 9, the home side gaining sufficient points to secure another year in A. Attenborough’s achievement was confirmed with surprising defeats for both Radcliffe on Trent and Gedling and Sherwood. Radcliffe’s Chris Holden snaffled five wickets as home side Unity Casuals could only manage 142. However Unity had their own five wicket haulier in Husnain Riaz as the losers fell to 110 in reply. Balderton’s form has come just at the right time with a third straight win at Gedling and Sherwood. For once Balderton’s top order came off with 53 from Dominic Wiffin, 32 from Ian Robinson and 25 from Tim Clipsham ensuring the visitors posted a testing 194. Balderton have been denied their potent new ball pairing for most of the season due to injury, yet Ishan Ratnayake and the fit again David Lynn made early inroads into the home batting, both finishing with three wickets each as the losers finished 69 runs shy on 125. Unfortunately, other results meant that Newstead Villages’ most convincing display of the season counted for nothing as they joined opponents Keyworth in B next season. Keyworth who can’t wait for the season to end slumped to 51 all out with nick Hand (4 for 19) and Adam Gilbert (3 for 13) in the wickets. In the divisions other fixture, Calverton showed what they can be capable of by gaining the lions share of the points at Long Eaton. The Lee brothers were prominent with the bat as Eddie struck (95) and Richard (40) impressing in Calverton’s total of 203. Despite having gained an extra over, Long Eaton’s reply fell three short of victory with spinner Mark Harrison (62) continuing his good form with the bat In B, Eastwood Town added the championship to promotion with a seven wicket win at Kirkby Portland who will fight it out with Bottesford and Kimberley II to survive the dreaded drop. Kirkby batted well to make 227 with second team run getter Robbie Britton top scoring with 65. The game was evenly poised at tea, particularly with Eastwood’s recent poor batting display. However the winners showed the mark of champions with Stuart Hill making 81 and Ikram Ul Haq an unbeaten 62 as the target was knocked off in 40 overs. There is a change in second as Belvoir suffered another bad day, crashing to a 112 run reversal at Ellerslie II (209). In their place go Clifton Village II and astonishingly it was another late order batsman who stole the show. With the home side struggling on 90 for 6, in came veteran Pete Fairhall who smacked 89 as Clifton finished on 201. Visitors Gotham Village, who until this defeat harboured promotion hopes of their own, fell to 156 all out after the interval with Fairhall chipping in with 3 for 28. The star though was Johnny Boyes who grabbed five wickets. Kimberley II just can’t seem to put a couple of results together and in doing so made Rolls Royce Leisure all but safe. A poor bowling and fielding display let Rolls make 290 with Adam Baker, Raheem Karim and Wasim Karim all making half centuries. High School boy Paldip Sidhu made 51 in reply but more contributions were needed as the visitors ended on 211 for 7. Congratulations go to Scott Harris and his young Hucknall side who were promoted from C with just three points required for the championship next week. A crucial part in this success has been the performances of spin duo Adam Scott and Jamie Braybrook. After making 180 themselves, Scott (4 for 32) and Braybrook (3 for 27) helped bowl out Radcliffe on Trent II for 109. Hyson Green Carrington Caribs look favourites to join them after another victory. Caribs only managed 146 but skipper Liaquat Ali has been brilliant with the ball all season and his six wickets help shoot down Bramcote. Don’t rule out third place Collingham just yet though. David Pipes cracked his fifth century of the season with his 122 being just enough to a target of 205 from West Bridgfordians for whom Charlie Garton impressed with an unbeaten 85. At the bottom there are five possibly six teams still involved as the season enters its last fortnight. Hickling’s game with Plumtree II went down to the final ball with the latter falling just three runs short of the 217 required for victory. Earlier Ian Welbourn and Ian Fisher had struck 76 and 71 respectively. A defeat for Nottingham would have spelt the end but good batting from Arslan Shah (65*) and Matt Lyas (54) ensured a seventeen point winning draw at Fiskerton. Another bad day at the office saw Attenborough II’s lead at the top in D cut to two points with a 31 run defeat at Thurgarton (192) who had Mick Sewell and Will Higson taking three wickets each. However 16 points from their remaining two games will see them in C next season. Wollaton II require 18 points following a comfortable seven wicket win at Wilsons (150). The winners had Andrew Rattray (62*) and Sunil Sharma (57) to thank for their success. At the bottom, Stanton by Dale live to fight another day after rivals Willoughby (76) failed to pick up a point in their heavy loss at home to Newark for whom Steve Kennewell and Robert Taylor took three wickets apiece. Well done to Gedling colliery II in E who secured their second successive promotion with a 43 run win at home to Long Eaton II (156) with run machine Geoff Moore continuing his exploits with 74. Nuthall look hot favourites to join them and will do so if they beat Underwood next week. Nuthall were 72 run winners over Farndon (112) with the Marsh brothers of Richard (37 & 3 for 35) and Adrian (45 & 4 for 25) playing the leading roles. In F Hoveringham created a new league record with their sixth successive promotion. They had to do it the hard way though at nearest challengers Kinoulton who set a testing 211 for victory. To overcome this target, you felt the big guns had to fire and Ben Lee (72) and Stuart Walton (62) duly responded as they won the championship also. Its probably going to be between Kinoulton and Chilwell for the other promotion space, but Bottesford II remain in contention after seeing off the form team in Unity Casuals II. Who else but Rupert Inglesant top scored with 86 as the winners chased down 170 for the loss of six wickets. Its all change at the top in G with Kirkby Portland II and East Bridgford making way for Oxton who made heavy weather of chasing 96 at Snibston Grange. Kirkby Portland were undone at East Leake by a superb captains performance by Steve Oakley. The skipper struck 66 out of 135 then took five scalps as Kirkby fell twenty runs shy. East Bridgford slipped to an agonising one wicket defeat at Ravenshead for whom Julian Tadd recorded the day’s best figures with 7 for 23. All will be settled in the next two weeks with East Bridgford and Oxton paths crossing twice. There were no nails left at Lowdham who failed by two runs at home to Gotham II (188) and are now relegated. Gotham fight on though with Kevin Perrell (75) striking another fifty after dropping down to the seconds. Loughborough Carillon II underlined why they are the best side in H with a comprehensive 100 run win over promotion hopefuls Hyson Green II (89) with Hitesh Patel grabbing five wickets. Hyson Green’s defeat was a blessing for Whatton and Aslockton who are stumbling at present. The losers were only chasing 125 at Edingley but four wickets Ian Wilson meant a five run reversal. Both West Bridgfordians II and Burton Joyce were promoted from J and both celebrated with defeats. The success for the clubs came about with a defeat for third place Basford Hall OB (96) at Ruddington (136). In K, Flintham added the championship to promotion as Ian Freeman crashed 101 as they successfully chased down Willoughby II (173) who are now relegated. Caunton look set to join them after defeating Lenton Abbey (77) with Dave Tilbury (67) top scoring. At the foot there was a vital victory for Breaston who passed Clifton Village III (167) for the loss of just four wickets thanks to 50 from John Nimat and an unbeaten 33 from Ashley Beadling. Breaston now need 11 points to be certain of survival. Caythorpe IV are almost there in L following an eight wicket win at doomed Stanton by Dale II. For the winners, Ian Hart struck 74 and Sean King 62. The headlines came from Keyworth II though where the side posted the highest total in their history, 323 at Lambley II. Individual wise, Richard Drury, in hitting 71 recorded his sixth successive score over fifty whilst with the ball, Dave garland achieved a personal best 5 for 20. Keyworth remain second but Wilsons II remain hot on their heels as first teamer Steve Maxey (78 and 4 for 49) was the star of their 98 run win at home to Thurgarton II (134). Another team just one win from glory are Balderton II in M. The winners made 217 thanks to 81 from Sam Ross. The total was far too many for Fiskerton II who succumbed to Dave Owen (5 for 25). Gedling Colliery III need one win too for promotion as they short work of Newark II (76) with five wickets for Matt Brooks. Farndon II are promoted from N after defeating West Bridgfordians III (140) by 22 runs. The second spot is really up for grabs following a shock defeat for Broad Street at relegated Snibston Grange II. The losers managed just 85 with Adam Wainwright bowling superbly to take 5 for 11 and Matt Hall weighing with a hat trick. Wainwright then tool centre stage with the bat striking 61 of the 86 required to secure a ten wicket thrashing. Wollaton III secured a second successive promotion in P leaving Young Lions and Wymeswold fighting it out to join them. Finally, Belvoir III are promoted from R after disposing of Eastwood Town III (112) by 73 runs. For Belvoir, Robbie McNeish (62) and Dan Fellows and Jeff Raistrich who snaffled three victims apiece were the heroes. |
