South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Expectations would have been high on Thursday night that the South Notts League would have had a full programme, however heavy rain on Friday meant that a further 22 games fell victim to the weather meaning that some sides have now not played since June 9!!

In Division A, Newstead Village are making a decent fist of attempting to make their stay in the top flight an extension of the year they managed on their previous visit in 2004. They had a must win game at fellow strugglers Ellerslie and found it hard going on a drying pitch and were thankful for the extras which top scored with 28 in their total of 132 as home skipper Eddie Pidduck and veteran left armer Phil Lafbery each grabbed three wickets.

However, the arrival of overseas spinner Tariq Mahmood  ( 3 for 30) has given an extra dimension to their bowling attack,  and together with Nick Hand (4 for 32) the pair made heavy inroads into the Ellerslie batting. Not even 51 from the consistent Samrat Sharma and a one hour delay due to a serious leg injury to a Newstead Village could prevent Ellerslie (94) sliding to the foot of the table.

In the only other game in A to beat the weather, Long Eaton closed the gap on leaders Plumtree with a three wicket win at Calverton (140), the teams  remain second and fourth respectively.

There are new leaders in B as Gedling and Sherwood replace Keyworth (92) following a four wicket win at the Chateau, Shaun Carmody (4 for 31) and Paul McMillan (3 for 22) the match winners.

The majority of the remaining action centred around the lower half of the table and Kirkby Portland, who endured a difficult start are now displaying a decent run of form and put home side Gotham to the sword. Invited to bat first, Kirkby openers Joe Caunt (58) and skipper Steve Betteridge (26) batted impressively in difficult early conditions, and although the change bowlers of Simon North (3 for 30), Gary Kerslake and Shane Litchfield (2 for 15) brought the home side back into the game, it was felt at tea that 169 was a useful score given the circumstances.

Gotham’s reply got off to a bright and breezy start with Litchfield helping himself to 33 out of the first 46, yet when he was out to a ill chosen pull the rest of the batsmen fell in a sorry procession as Brett Jones (4 for 17) and Jason Caunt (3 for 32) reaped the rewards of accurate bowling.

Gotham fall to the bottom as there was a first win since the opening day for Collingham. Visitors Bottesford laboured to just 87 in 44 overs. Not surprisingly, with Paul Todd in form. The home sides reply was short and sweet, Todd finishing unbeaten on 67.  Elsewhere, West Bridgfordians must have regretted dropping Pallav Patel in single figures as the Loughborough man went on to make 98* out of his sides 149. Patel also weighed in with three wickets, as did the in-form Andy Harland as the home side eventually clung on to a losing draw as 135 for 9 in what was an entertaining game.

Just the two games were possible in Division C and neither involved the top two of Clifton Village II and Carrington Caribs. Belvoir closed the gap on the promotion spots with a six wicket success at Plumtree II (158 for 6) thanks to 56 from Charles Hubbard. A good day too  for improving Hucknall (202 – 9) as they gained a 17 point winning draw at Hickling who again missed the opportunity to put pressure on the top two. For Hucknall, teenager Scott Harris made 89 and there was another fine performance from all rounder Jamie Braybrook (58 and 3 for 33).

In D, the postponed fixtures affected the top sides so focus was switched to the other end and not even an enforced break could alter the fortunes of strugglers Calverton II and Willoughby. Chris Miller’s 61 ensured that the Calverton skipper has now top scored in each of his sides seven games, home side Thrumpton though knocked off the 164 required with four wickets intact thanks to 68 from Zaf Iqbal. Willoughby did a decent job in restricting Newark to 126 but then a devastating spell of 5 for 2 from Steve Kennewell, aided by Ian Black who weighed in with 4 for 19 saw the home side slump to 69 all out in reply.

Only one game survived in E and it saw Hucknall II cement their mid table position with a 100 run success at home to next to bottom West Bridgford Legion (126), for the winners, Ian Lobb top scored with 70 whilst Steve Fearn chipped in with 51.

Eastwood II’s stay at the summit in F lasted all of one week as they were destroyed by promotion rivals Gedling Colliery II and Gareth Hayes who took 5 for 21 as the home side recorded a nine wicket win. Caythorpe III (167 for 8)  took advantage and are the new leaders, Ashley Daffin taking 5 for 22, including a hat trick as visitors Unity Casuals II, who had been on a decent run themselves before the monsoons  were bowled out for 102. Wins too for mid table sides Elks and Ellerslie II.

No change at the top in G as Chilwell, Hoveringham and Lowdham all recorded victories. Ali Mohammed was again in the wickets for leaders Chilwell taking 4 for 24 to restrict Epperstone to 108. However wickets crumbled in the hunt for maximum batting points  and it was left to Asad Nadeem to see Chilwell home with an unbeaten 58.

Its now 9 wins out of 9 for Oxton in Division H and it seems that the outstanding issue will be who joins them in G next season. The leaders didn’t have it all their own way though at East Bridgford (135) and it was due to the consistent Mike Berry (33 and 4 for 30) that they finally got home with three wickets to spare.

Kirkby Portland II wasted little time in seeing off the challenge of strugglers Geding and Sherwood II (64) and in doing so move up to second. East Leake climb to fourth, Andrew Elkington picking up four wickets and Rob Grant and Steve Oakley three apiece as home side Loughborough Carillon II were blasted out for 48 chasing 184 for victory. Earlier, both Ashley Mace and Chris Neal had recorded fifties for the winners.

Lambley remain top in J but only just as they were the latest side to fall victim to Stapleford’s upturn in fortunes. Chasing just 97 for victory, the table toppers collapsed to 94 all out, Richard Cox the hero with 5 for 26. Defeat for Lambley was slightly harsh on Jamie Marchant who contributed 63 and took 3 for 20 with the ball. At the bottom, Edingley (196 for 6) gave themselves some breathing space, easily disposing of fellow strugglers Bestwood Village (118).

In K, Burton Joyce retain their 100% record with a six wicket win at winless Thurgarton II (163 for 8). West Bridgfordians remain second as they too recorded a comfortable win at mid table Bingham.

It was third against first in Division L but there is little stopping Woodborough at present who dismissed Willoughby II for 61, Matt Lane the chief destroyer with 4 for 7. Nearest rivals Breaston’s game at Newark II fell victim to the weather so Clifton Village III closed the gap with a close fought seven run win at Stanton by Dale II (145), Craig Fairhall top scoring with 63 for the winners and Richard Deeley taking 5 for 24 for the losers.

Thrumpton II return to the top in M without bowling a ball in anger as Belton slipped to a surprise 38 run defeat at Fiskerton II (162) who had Dave Harper bowling his team to success with 4 for 30.  Elsewhere, despite a hat trick from Tim Taylor, his Wilsons II side fell to a 46 run defeat at Lambley II (200 for 7) who move up to third.

In N there was no game for leaders Gedling Colliery III but Lowdham II put their ground woes behind them and cemented their runners up slot, taking just 12 overs to pass the 73 run target set by Radcliffe III. Something had to give at the bottom and a superb performance from Rob Sedgwick (6 for 10) of Cotgrave II saw visiting Newstead Village III shot out for 91. However Newstead fought back through John Battram (5 for 30) and Danny Salmon (4 for 19), but Cotgrave, thanks to Ian Lynn (33*) squeezed home and move out the relegation places.

Top score in the league went to Ben Lambourne of Whatton and Aslockton II in Division P who struck 114 out of his teams 199, in reply Broad Street could muster just 67 as Whatton recorded just their second win of the season. No game for leaders Chilwell II but closest rivals Ellerslie III recorded a five wicket success at home to bottom club Beeston Sycamore III (82 for 8), Tom Shields the man of the match with 4 for 16. Kimberley IV recorded a much needed win at Titchfield Park against visitors Long Eaton, 14 year old Becky Widdowson the star of the show taking 4 for 15.