South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report 4^th July 2009

By Phil Johnson

CALVO COLLAPSO

Division A leaders Radcliffe on Trent once again showed their ruthless streak after making light work of a poor Calverton side.  

Harry Bharker (35) apart it was an abject batting display from the bottom club side, slumping to 70 all out as Chris Holden (4 for 12) and Rob Sutton (3 for 13) reaped the rewards. In reply, Billie Armstrong, who has been his clubs stand out performer so far this season took a couple of early scalps. However the result was never in doubt and Sutton (39*) ensured an early conclusion.

Still in pursuit though are Notts Unity Casuals who increased Gedling and Sherwoods relegation worries with a 32 run success. Teenager Dominic Terkowski, who left Kimberley this week, began his Unity career with an unbeaten 70 whilst there were some welcome runs for Simon Neal (57) in a final total of 210. The visitors were never really in the hunt, not least after being 40 for 4. Gerry Goodwin (47) and Glenn Morley (31) did put up with a fight in the tail but Unity were relatively comfortable winners thanks to four and two wickets respectively for the dynamic duo that is Kafeel Shafique and Ben Savage.

Balderton have climbed back up to third and in doing so, all but ended Belvoir’s hopes of a third successive promotion. The winners racked up 192 with Tim Clipsham adding to his 100 the previous week with 58, runs too for Chris Dobbie (65). After tea, returnee from New Zealand Dave Storer made 38, however the veteran lacked support as the home side eventually fell 13 runs short.

If Gedling Colliery were to unfortunately suffer relegation, then they would look back on Saturday’s loss at home to mid table Eastwood with more than a tinge of regret.

The home side had done all the right things before the interval, restricting Eastwood to just 147 with seamer Jeff Burton claiming five victims, for Eastwood all rounder Irfan Ul Haq struck exactly 50. However back came the winners after tea, Burton completed a good day personally with an unbeaten 33 but the losers had no answer to Dave Summers (4 for 33) and Dean Blake (3 for 31) as Gedling were defeated on 139.

Two teams that have lacked consistency in recent weeks, Long Eaton and Southwell met at West Park with the former coming out on top by five wickets. Southwell made 185 with Chris Miller top scoring with 64. Despite four wickets for spinner Dave Rimmer, the winners got home with three overs remaining thanks to South African Leon Botha (55*) and Tim Taylor (44).

Hyson Green Caribs used Gotham’s inactivity to extend their lead at the top in B. However they were made to work hard for their victory at winless Keyworth.

The bottom club posted a par 172 with Rehal Ahmed (5 for 41) and Taufseer Shah (4 for 48) restricting the home side. In reply Caribs slipped to 10 for 3 before Mahmood Ali (92*) guided the leaders to a seventh outright success.

Loughborough Carillon are unfortunately leaving the league at the end of the season to join the Leicestershire League and they will be sorely missed. However their determination to end on a high with honours was all too apparent on Saturday as they cruised to a six wicket success at Newstead Village.

Both sides were missing regulars but even so there was no excuse for some of the Newstead shot making as they slumped to 57 for 7 against the impressive bowling of Toby Waistling (4 for 33) and Mark Gamlyn (2 for 16). Steve Daykin (37) brought some relief but 134 was a huge disappointment for the home side.

Carillon needed an opening bat due to the absence of Billam and Trimmingham, so keeper Ian Rose who usually bats at ten volunteered for the role. Chanceless it wasn’t but Rose’s innings of 52, coupled with the flamboyant  John Harrison (26) saw the runs knocked off with more than 20 overs to spare.

One team to watch out for come September are Rolls Royce Leisure who gained revenge over Ellerslie for their opening day defeat. The losers could only muster 133 which would have been considerably less if Rolls had held on to all their catches. For the winners, skipper Jason Gorman (3 for 30) continued his good form, Wasim Karim (4 for 23) also impressed. Rolls reply contained the usual heart flutters but Gordon Pearson (33*), Arslan Shah (26) and Gorman (25) got the team home with four wickets intact.

Hucknall were put to the sword at Clifton Village II for whom Nick Silverwood (80) and Barry Shepherd (50) took the honours in a whopping 280. Hucknall needed a quick response, but both openers were dismissed without scoring and despite another century for Robin Maxwell the innings closed on 227.

The match of the day in C lived up to its billing with the outcome being decided on the final delivery. Kirkby Portland notched up 212 thanks to fifties from Steve Richardson and Robbie Britton. Henry Straw (74*) and James Belshaw (40) were at the helm of the West Bridgfordians reply but it was spinner Kulvern Kandola, who added to his four wickets earlier by hitting the winning boundary at the death.

Kirkby’s defeat meant that Collingham cemented their place in the promotion places with a comfortable seven wicket win at home to struggling Hickling (179). For the winners, David Pipes followed his economical spell of 16 overs (3 for 36) with 43 but again it was fifteen year old Oliver Dyson (50) that caught the eye.

Bramcote were drinking in the last chance saloon before Saturday but have now given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the drop. Some decent bowling from Mark Spibey (4 for 37) and Pete Hollingsworth (4 for 23) saw visitors Attenborough II collapse from 101 for 2 to 136 all out, this was after Ian Baddeley (60) had given them the ideal start.Bramcote’s pursuit was fraught with setbacks but Chris Parkes (40*) and that man Hollingsworth (28*) guided their team from 22 for 4 and 90 for 6 to a priceless  four wicket win.

Its going to take a good team to halt Gedling Colliery’s title charge in D. The leaders saw off Willoughby (90) who had crept into the promotion picture themselves but were on the wrong end of a 126 run reversal thanks to Goff Moore (58), Duncan McKeown (46) and Gareth Hayes (4 for 28).

Newark are still bottom but a second win in three games have given themselves some hope. Chasing 168 to win at home to Risley, fourteen runs off the final over seemed too steep a challenge. However, enter Robin Curtis who smacked two sixes to win the game with two balls remaining.

Leaders Hoveringham got back to winning ways in E after two consecutive defeats and Thrumpton have almost crept unnoticed into the runners up spot following a 84 run win at Hucknall II (127). The winners showed their strength in depth, recovering from 53 – 6 to post 211 thanks to Ali Mohammed (89), then it was the turn of Frank Foreman (5 for 17) to continue his Indian summer.

At the wrong end of the table, Kinoulton (167) tied with Underwood, yet the strugglers will be kicking themselves after being dismissed with six overs still remaining. For Underwood Tom Chalkley (76 & 4 for 21) played the leading role.

Its as you were in F with wins for the top three of Ellerslie II, Eastwood II and Wymeswold. Kirkby Portland II could still have a say too following Brett Jones’ six wicket haul at East Bridgford (74).

Whatton and Aslockton (252) look a good bet for honours in G, increasing their lead at the top with a 92 run win at home to nearest rivals Beeston & Toton Sycamore. For the winners, Ben Lambourne (112) continued his brilliant season whilst after the interval three wickets apiece from John Moncaster and John Wallis ensured a comfortable success.

Another form team in the division are East Leake (212) who now have a chance of promotion  following 124 win at Loughborough Carillon II with Rob Grant, Michael White and Andrew Elkington all claiming three wickets apiece.

In H, Burton Joyce could only manage 127 at home to Bramcote II. Tony Downie top scored with 36 with 12 of these coming off the final over, this was to prove vital though as the losers fell two runs short after failing miserably to achieve the six runs required off the last over for victory.

At the foot, congratulations go to Hyson Green Caribs II who are finally off and running thanks to Ali Akhbar and Jasper Jarrad who both struck 60 in their 78 run success at home to Cotgrave (141).

There was a tense finish at Woodborough in J where visitors Lenton Abbey needed 2 to win off the final delivery. Step forward Paul Wilson (3 for 42) who bowled Phil Reeve to lift his team into second place.

The veterans are continuing to shine for Rolls Royce II as their promotion challenge continues to gather momentum. Last week it was Alan Pearson and on Saturday it was the turn of Tony Coupe (87*) to strike his side to an easy win at Beeston and Toton II.

Promotion chasing Keyworth Ii slipped up at Wilsons II in K, leaving Attenborough III to move up into second following a four wicket win at Stapleford ((93). For the winners Pete Bateman took the first five wickets to fall.

Elsewhere Risley II won the relegation battle, beating Clifton Village II (135) with just one wicket intact, Richard Edwards hitting the winning run.

Thrumpton II (217) stretched their lead at the top in L, comfortably disposing of Willoughby II (157) with Kamran Rashid (97 & 3 for 23) claiming the man of the match award. The form book was turned on its head though with a defeat for Balderton II (172) at home to Belton (226) who had Cliff Leader (72) top scoring.

Struggling Newark must have though they were on to a winner in the local derby at Farndon II in M as James O’ Leary fired a brilliant unbeaten 127 out of a daunting 250. However Jason Johnson crashed 80, Steve Ryder 41 and David Adwick 46 as the target was overhauled in the penultimate over.

Wymeswold II continue to lead the way in N and it was the brother and sister combination of Jack and Louisa Hayes which earned the plaudits in their latest success.  Louisa grabbed three wickets as Ruddington II falling to 102 all out then Jack notched up his first league fifty in the pursuit.

Strugglers met Radcliffe IV and Kimberley ICC IV met in P and 15 year old Jordan Harbottle continued his impressive season with an unbeaten 53 to haul Radcliffe out the relegation places.

Finally in R, well done to Jacob Conners of Attenborough IV. The 12 year old claimed four wickets as Nottingham Badshahs (118) fell to a rare defeat.