South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report Saturday 25 July 2009

By Phil Johnson

BROOKS AND TORRNADO BLOW AWAY UNITY

The eagerly awaited top of the table clash in A between Radcliffe on Trent and Notts Unity Casuals lived up to all the hype and it was Radcliffe who were celebrating after clinching a nail biting two wicket win, thus extending their lead at the top to 31 points.

Unity’s innings never really got going, although they were given a decent enough start in the shape of Brian Baptiste (46) and Simon Neal (24). In fact Neal looked in sublime form until Michael Bratt held on to a difficult chance at cover. Usman Mussafer (26) and James Marshall (24) both made starts but a final total of 169 was below par on a decent enough track. For Radcliffe Eddie Torr impressed, particularly in his second spell, finishing with 5 for 27.

After tea a healthy crowd were treated to a superb spell of seam bowling in the form of 16 year old Kafeel Shaffique who picked up 6 of the first seven wickets to fall. Rob Brookes stood firm but with the exception of Richard Fentum (27) his support was poor and at 104 for 7, the honours looked like they were going the way of the visitors.

However, Eddie Torr (25) strode to the crease and decided that attack was the best form of defence. The pair cobbled together 40 precious runs, Brooks (76*) was simply brilliant, never offering a chance and together with an unlikely hero Chris Holden (17*) who never looked fazed, the pair got to the target with two overs remaining.

Southwell remain third after a comfortable win at home to Calverton who are running out of games to save themselves. The bottom club managed only 137 with 16 year old George Bacon taking the honours with a five wicket haul. After a few early wickets fell in the reply, Bacon (49*) got together with Matt Davis (44*) to ensure a comfortable win.

Belvoir increased the gap between them and the rest below in fourth with Eastwood (101) hanging on for a losing draw. There were more runs for professional Darren Bicknell, 139 out of 220 in fact, Tom Neville (38) weighed in with 38 to set the home side a testing challenge.

In the chase, only Imran Azam (38) threatened but was dismissed at 81. Regular wickets fell and Belvoir looked odds on for outright victory at 90 for 9. However Shaun Stocks and Luke Elderkin dug deep and defended successfully for 12 overs to deny the visitors.  

It looks like its going down to the wire at the bottom with both Gedling clubs recording positive results. Colliery had mainly Shane Pidgeon (90) to thank at home to Balderton, however the innings was given a boost towards the death with a blast of 37 from just 12 balls from Michael Bailey whose impressive cameo included four sixes.

Chasing 221 for victory, Balderton’s reply was dull affair managing just 85 for 6 before stumps were drawn. At 60 for 6, Gedling may have sensed an outright win but there were no further dismissals with Jeff Burton (3 for 23) the pick of the bowling attack.

At West Park, Long Eaton’s Tim Taylor again ploughed a lone furrow in the top order. Taylor struck 54 as none of the remaining top six recorded double figures. At 37 for 5, things looked very bleak, but battling knocks from Alan Villiers (36) and 15 year old Jack Harrison gave the final total (143) a modicum of respectability. For Gedling and Sherwood, the team have sorely missed Shaun Carmody (4 for 27) and Alex Norton (3 for 35) for the majority of the season.

The reply was not without its trials and tribulations. Alan Villiers (1 for 21 off 16 overs) was miserly in the extreme whilst there were a couple of wickets apiece for Craig Mellors and Leon Botha. However with contributions from John Gell (39), Jerry Cruise (31) and Samrat Sharma (25) the visitors eventually got home in the penultimate over.

It’s as you were at the top in B with wins for Gotham Village and Hyson Green Caribs. Gotham’s victory came against a weak and poor Kimberley II side who could do nothing to stop the visitors recording 258 with six batsmen recording over 25. After tea Kimberley failed to make three figures with Brad Moore (3 for 32) the pick of an impressive attack.

Caribs bowlers were again on song, restricting form team Loughborough Carillon to just 95 in their 48 overs. The highlight of the first half was a supreme spell of bowling from skipper Liaquat Ali who took for 4 for 14 in his 16 over spell. Left arm spinner provided Taufseer Shah the back up with 3 for 27.

There were jitters again in the Caribs though with six wickets falling in the chase before the experience of Monty Douglas (30*) saw the winners home. In a low scoring match, defeat for the visitors was a touch harsh on Toby Waistling (34 and 3 for 23) who performed well.

Rolls Royce have not given up hope of promotion and recorded a six wicket win at Newstead Village (138). An unchanged spell of 5 for 39 from Saleem Karim restricted the losers and then brother Rahim finally got in the runs with an unbeaten 53. Nick Hand (2 for 32) bowled well for Newstead but things may have turned out differently if he had held on to a caught and bowled opportunity when Karim was on nought.

Hucknall did their survival chances a power of good with a 17 point winning draw at home to Clifton Village II. Yet again it was Robin Maxwell who took centre stage, striking his fifth century of the season and passing 800 runs in the process. His innings of 143 was not without chances though with Clifton passing up five catches and a missed stumping opportunity.

Chasing 287 to win, Clifton had a chance at the half way stage on 120 for 1 thanks to Nick Silverwood (78) and Matt Handley (54). However it was the spin pairing of Jamie Braybrook (5 for 63) and Adam Scott (2 for 56) that applied the brakes and turned the screw. Wickets then fell regularly with Clifton concluding on 209 for 8.

Keyworth will not give up hope of avoiding the drop just yet, climbing off the bottom with a second successive victory. Visitors Ellerslie posted 189 with Ian Graham grabbing five wickets. Graham then top scored with 65 yet it was Tony Newby (53*) who steered the winners home despite five victims for the divisions leading wicket taker Husnain Riaz.

The merry go round that is the promotion race in C took more turns on Saturday with defeats for previous leaders and runners up West Bridgfordians and Kirkby Portland. The former will have been disappointed with 163 at home to Plumtree II after being given such a good start by skipper Jon Sheard (68). The score proved insufficient as 55 from Charlie Kingsbury and 49 from Steve James saw the visitors home.

Kirkby Portland (146) also came second at Bottesford (202) which left the way clear for Collingham to return to the top. David Pipes struck 101 and David Coote Jnr 54 in a total of 247. Visitors Attenborough survived reasonably comfortably for the losing draw on 194 for 6 thanks to Tom Buckel (74) and Ian Baddeley (60).

Down at the bottom Hickling gained a priceless victory at home to Bramcote. Matt Harby (79) was making the chase of 186 look easy, yet his dismissal with ten overs remaining brought some nerves with victory coming in the final over.

In D there was a shock for Gedling Colliery II who were completely outplayed by their closest challengers Fiskerton. The winners posted 223 and felt good thanks to James Brown (52), Richard Robson (56) and Mark Fish (42) then it was the turn of Richard Drinkwater (3 for 18) and Kevin Rees (3 for 20) to wrap up a comprehensive 126 run win.

Two other promotion contenders, Wilsons and Long Whatton met at Regatta Way and the home side, chasing 122 made a fantastic recovery from 30 for 6 to tie the score with two wickets intact, only for Mark Lester (4 for 29) to take the wickets with the score on 122. It was definitely a day for the bowlers here with Nadeem Ghani (6 for 38) starring earlier for the home side.

No problems for the top two of Hoveringham and Thrumpton  but it was a bad day for rivals for Hucknall II (90) who were comprehensively beaten at Caythorpe III (186) with Matt Daffin (73) and John Kneale (50 and 3 for 15) the men of the match.

Farndon have slid down the table alarmingly in recent weeks, however their batsmen made a timely return to form on Saturday with Daniel Hubbard, Andrew Duckmanton and Mark Townrow all striking fifties in their thrashing of Stanton by Dale (139).  

There is no change at the top in F with Ellerslie II and Eastwood II pulling away from third place Wymeswold who came a cropper at Kirkby Portland II. Ellerslie had Raees Tariq firing a century in a close fought 16 run success at home to Long Eaton II (203) whilst Eastwood’s 14 year old Ryan Buckley (56*) continued his fine season in his teams eight wicket win at Calverton II (139).

Elsewhere in F, congratulations go to Notts Unity II who recorded their first win of the season at the 13^th attempt. It was in some style too, dismissing Oxton for just 92 with young Usman Aziz grabbing three wickets. After tea, Nick Land (51) ensured there were no alarms in the chase.

Gedling and Sherwood II’s promotion push in G suffered another setback with a heavy defeat at home to East Leake ((184), the winners having Rob Grant snaffling six victims in an 81 run success.

At the other end of the table, not even a first senior fifty for 15 year old James Cousins could halt Collingham II sliding to a fifteen run defeat at Epperstone (180).

Division J leaders Burton Joyce returned to form at home to Cotgrave Welfare who crawled to a miserable 39 in an incredible 35 overs. All the bowlers recorded impressive figures with Ken Scholey (4 for 10) and Mark Pratt (3 for 12) the pick from their allotted 12 overs. Unsurprisingly the winners made light work of the total, knocking off the runs in seven overs.

There was a thriller though at Snibston Grange with a run out in the final over sealing the home sides fate, falling just four runs shy of Lowdham’s 172. Earlier Ian Staples had continued his good form for the winners with 67.

There are new leaders in J with Lenton Abbey hammering bottom club Bingham (89) by 122 runs. For the table toppers bothers Owais (62*) and Omar Qadeer (40) shared the batting honours. Lenton’s ascent came about because of a defeat for Sutton Bonington at home to Belvoir who had Ollie Clayfield back in the runs following up his four catches with 56 to add to Charles Hubbard’s 76 as the victors passed the 180 target for the loss of just two wickets.

Leaders Kimberley III (139) fell to a heavy defeat at Risley II in K who had Dane Harper (4 for 21) and Wahedna Khan (3 for 26) impressing in an eight wicket win. The heroic performance of the day though came from Stapleford who could only muster eight players but still managed to defend 92 at home to Keyworth II thanks four wickets apiece from Darren Gelder and Gary Dawson.

In L there were two century makers. Willoughby II recorded a much needed win with Gareth Johnson cracking 120 in a 98 run win at home to bottom club Breaston (151). Belton’s fine run continues with  John Shillingham (127) and Martin Radford (5 for 25) the catalysts in their mammoth 199 run win against Thurgarton II (61).

The last remaining unbeaten record went in M with Fiskerton II overhauling Hucknall III’s total of 110 with three wickets intact. This was despite the best efforts of Jon Toddhunter who took 6 for 42. Elsewhere in M, Gareth Jones of Stanton by Dale II took a personal best of 7 for 52 but this still couldn’t stop his side slipping to an 81 run defeat at Farndon II (142).

The top of the table clash in N proved a damp squib with Young Lions hammering Wymeswold II(83) by nine wickets. However the main story in the lower leagues was a brilliant 140 from Adam Wainwright of Snibston Grange II. Wainwright’s career best enabled his team to stay in the promotion race in P.

Finally in R Dean Simnett (6 for 21) rolled back the years as Long Eaton III stay just outside the promotion slots following a six wicket win at home to Gedling and Sherwood III (104).