South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report Saturday 11 July 2009

By Phil Johnson

With seven games remaining in A it looks like its down to Radcliffe on Trent and Notts Unity Casuals in the race to the Premier League with the remainder of the challenge beginning to fall by the wayside.

Leaders Radcliffe travelled to struggling Gedling Colliery who will have been disappointed with their final total of 185 after being 108 for 1 thanks to early runs for Shane Pidgeon (58) and Jeff Burton (44). Gedling’s acceleration was hampered by the bowling of Rob Sutton (3 for 62) and Frankie Brown (3 for 46).

Radcliffe’s overseas star Marc Ellison has not fired on all cylinders so far but Saturday turned out to be his day. Together with Sutton (35) the pair pushed the score on to 84, yet three quick wickets for Baz Bailey saw the game delicately poised on 107 for4. However, Ellison stood firm and together with Michael Bratt (28*) who has been sorely missed with a back injury the duo got over the finishing line without further alarm with Ellison recording his first league century.

At bottom club Calverton, Unity batsman Gurpej Landa has found the home sides attack to his liking, adding a superb 117 to his 142 in May as Unity (260) piled on the agony. Calverton (120), despite 56 from left hander Scott Andrew were never in the hunt and looked doomed. For Unity there were more wickets for Usman Mussafer (3 for 41), Kafeel Shafique (2 for 10) and Ben Savage (2 for 13).

From looking nervously over their shoulders a month ago, two wins and two winning draws have lifted Eastwood into third place, the latest success coming over a well beaten Long Eaton outfit.

Eastwood piled on the runs in the top order through Stuart Hill (90) and keeper Steven Leese (50), yet a final total of 215 was less than they hoped as spinner Mark Harrison (6 for 54) and Alan Villiers (4 for 46) impressed at the death.

The momentum was slightly with the visitors at this stage, however an inspired spell of bowling from Irfan Ul Haq (3 for 25) ended all hope of a Long Eaton success after picking up the prize scalps of Leon Botha and Brett Scothern.  All that remained was whether Eastwood could force outright victory. Tim Taylor (77*) who battled extremely well,  stood valiantly in their way, however the support Taylor received was woeful with extras (12) the second top score telling the sorry tale. Sixteen year old Luke Elderkin again impressed and picked up the final two wickets to give Eastwood a 100 run victory.

Southwell’s batting again let them down, securing only a losing draw in a mid table clash at home to Belvoir. The visitors made 178 with spinner Dave Rimmer (4 for 28) impressing, however, the run chase was a struggle. Chris Miller (37) was going well until he was ran out as Darren Bicknell (5 for 38) turned the screw with his slow left armers. Rimmer and Ted Behl batted out 10 overs until the latter was unfortunately ran out backing up leaving Rimmer (39*) to hold on for the draw.

Indian Samrat Sharma has been below par to date for Gedling and Sherwood, however Saturday proved to be a red letter day for the overseas in A as Sharma almost single handidly defeated Balderton. The losers managed just 134 with Sharma’s sixteen overs of spin giving him superb figures of 6 for 18. Sharma then struck 75 and together with Carl Blake (52*) the pair eased the strugglers to a nine wicket success.

There was a first defeat of the season in B for Hyson Green Caribs, and a slight worry for skipper Liaquat Ali will be the misfiring of the top order in recent weeks. Caribs made just 140, and that was only due to contributions late on from Zahid Iqbal (33) and Waheed Kyani (25), for Clifton Village II, Johnathan Boyes (4 for 59) again bowled well. There was the usual fight from Caribs with the ball as Taufseer Shah (3 for 25) and Ali (2 for 25) caused problems. However 46 from Anthony Hart (46) and 20 late on from skipper Luke Gunn got the visitors home with three wickets intact.

Gotham managed to close the gap on the leaders in an incredible game at home to Ellerslie. Gotham could only muster 120 with Husnain Riaz (4 for 31) and Will Shields (3 for 22) in the wickets again. Yet Ellerslie slumped to 82 for 9 in reply with Brad Moore (4 for 30) again at the centre of things. However a last wicket partnership of 35 between Simon George and Chris Bellaby almost brought an unlikely victory before the vital final wicket was taken.

Rolls Royce were the form team in B and even harboured hopes of promotion, however their fragile batting reared its ugly head again at Loughborough who remain third. Carillon scored 132 in a reduced overs game and this included a last wicket stand of 23. For Rolls Rahim Karim (4 for 42) and the reliable Jason Gorman (3 for 26) bowled well. Gorman ((53*) apart the Rolls reply was woeful with wickets being thrown away. Again it was the medium pacers that did the damage with Mark Gamlyn, Toby Waistling and Cameron Flitten grabbing a couple of wickets apiece. Spinner Nitant Desai also joined in with 3 for 22 as the losers fell 35 runs shy.

Where would Hucknall be without the runs of Robin Maxwell . The talented batsman recorded his fourth league century of the season on Saturday and in doing so passed the 650 run mark. Maxwell fired 122 and assisted by Scott Harris (45) and Adam Brown (31) the home side were able to declare on 259 against winless Keyworth. The bottom club replied through Adam Somekh (70) and stand in skipper Geoff Tindsley (53*), however they were kept in check by Jamie Braybrook (5 for 35) and had to settle for a losing draw on 187 for 7.

For the first time this season Kimberley gained maximum batting points posting 196 at home to fellow strugglers Newstead Village, thanks to 66 from James Griffiths and an unbeaten 37 from 14 year old Dominic Brown. However the effort was all in vain as despite trying eight bowlers, Newstead got home relatively comfortably thanks to skipper Andy Paulson who carried his bat for 60.

In the top of the table clash in C West Bridgfordians (178) got off to a dream start, restricting Collingham to 43 for 4 with the early wickets including star bat David Pipes for nought. However runs in the middle order from David Dakin (53) and Paul Todd (47) enabled the visitors to post a competitive 178 despite the efforts of Kushal Shah (5 for 48). The losers reply was disappointing as Pipes (6 for 34) gained revenge with the ball.

At the other end of the scale Attenborough II gained a thrilling and priceless victory at Wollaton II who scored 187 thanks in the main to John Gulson (73). The reply was a close run thing and six were required off the final over, enter keeper Andy McCarroll who struck a four and a two to move the winners out of the relegation slots. For the losers, teenagers Hassan Shamsi (4 for 63) and Alex King (3 for 34) impressed.

Its going to take a monumental reversal of fortunes to stop Gedling Colliery II being promoted out of D so the race is on for the remaining slot. The form team has been Wilsons yet they had a major shock on Saturday as struggling Newark bowled them out for just 44 with Ian Black and Rob Taylor taking five wickets apiece.

This surprise defeat left Fiskerton to climb back into second as Richard Drinkwater (7 for 31) took a hat trick in their four wicket win at Nuthall (140). Not too far behind though are Long Whatton  who had Alex Lester firing 125 in their 64 run win at home to Willoughby (187). After tea, Jason Preston took six of the seven wickets to fall.

Three defeats in four weeks for Division E leaders Hoveringham have thrown the promotion race wide open. The latest reversal came at home to Hucknall II who had Steve Fearn (126) finding form at the right time. Despite 70 from Ben Lee the losers fell 26 runs short of the 233 target.

Thrumpton continue to hold on to second with Aleem Mohammed following up his 80 last week with five wickets this as Farndon (143) finished well short of the 207 required.

 In F, Ellerslie II continue to lead the way but only just as Calverton II gave them a scare. Ex Notts CCC man Kevin Evans struck a fifty in a total of 169 for the losers and Ellerslie were 124 for 7 in reply before Alan Harrison (62*) found vital support in Eddie George (21) and keeper Greg Whatnall (15) to squeeze the side home.

Second played third in the same league and Eastwood Town II were comfortable 103 run winners at Wymeswold (124) thanks to the father and son combination of Tom (71) and Ryan Buckley (42) and the bowling of skipper Mark Smith who bowled brilliantly to take 7 for 27.

Division G leaders Whatton and Aslockton were without a game so Beeston and Toton Sycamore took advantage to close the gap with a five wicket win at struggling Collingham (140). The winners had Dave Hoon (3(*) and Tom Fullwood (30*) to thank for an unbroken sixth wicket partnership.

Gedling and Sherwood II stay in contention too with 147 run thrashing of Loughborough Carillon II (97). In a reduced overs game Kirsten Cowlishaw and Steve Carmody both fired fifties before Greg Bloor (4 for 15) and Shaun Carmody (3 for 16) got to work with the ball.

Division H leaders Burton Joyce came a cropper at home to Basford Hall OB, yet Edingley (192) failed to take advantage as they fell to a resurgent Hyson Green Caribs II (238) side who climbed off the bottom thanks to Clifton Williams (79) and Sajid Akram (59).

Poor Bramcote II, they followed up last weeks two run reversal with a one run defeat as Pete Bacon just failed (67) to see his side through at home to Snibston Grange (163).

There was a straightforward win for Division J leaders Sutton Bonington (235) at Beeston and Toton II (156) and Rolls Royce II climb into second with a thrilling one wicket win at home to bottom club Bingham (107) who lost a low scoring encounter despite the best efforts of Nick Wynn (30 and 3 for 12).

Kimberley III have a healthy lead in K but Attenborough III climb into second with Richard Henson top scoring with 65 in their easy win at Risley II (133).

Its as you were in L wih Kamran Rashid (50 and 3 for 45) again performing for leaders Thrumpton II in their forty run win at home to close rivals Long Whatton II (149), Kevin Pick also struck 70 for the winners.  And its not all over for Belton who have hit some form at the bottom. Saturday was their second win on the bounce and they have Tom Orrill (5 for 26) to thanks as they successfully defended 92 against Breaston.

Twelve year old Jake Fish has performed admirably for Fiskerton II in M  to date this season. However on Saturday he surpassed all his previous efforts with a wonderful unbeaten 105 as his team successfully chased down a testing 198 at home to Stanton By Dale II.

Elsewhere in M Graham Lockwood of Radcliffe III became the third player from the club to fire a century on Saturday  (Marc Ellison in A and veteran Paul Richardson in D being the others). Lockwoods effort was in a winning cause as Farndon II (132) failed miserably to overcome the 256 set.

Ellerslie III are going for promotion in N and on Saturday they had 14 year old Matt leach (4 for 19) starring with the ball in their win at home to Ashby Hastings III (109), thirteen year old Peter Viadev also chipped in with a couple of victims.

Finally, the form book was turned on its head with a rare win for Kimberley IV at Snibston Grange II (123). The catalyst behind the success was veteran Andy Platts who struck a superb unbeaten 82 to ensure a three wicket win.