South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Newly promoted Gedling and Sherwood demonstrated that they haven’t come up to Division A purely to make the numbers up with a resounding thrashing of 2007 runners up Calverton. Despite being without the services of new signings Samrat Sharma and Alex Kelly, Gedling routed the visiting batting line up, shooting them out for just 65. In reply an unbeaten 36 from Carl Blake saw the home side through without any qualms.

It wasn’t such a pretty picture for Keyworth, the other promoted side, as an outstanding performance from Long Eaton’s professional Umar Hassan was the difference between the two sides Hassan struck 112 in the visitors 215 and then snaffled five victims with the ball. Despite 65 from Ian Graham, Keyworth fell some distance short on 135.

Attenborough, some peoples dark horses this season gave out a sound beating at Newstead Village. A combination of some accurate bowling from skipper Andrew Simkiss, Sam Clulow, Martin Rayner and a procession of run outs meant that the home side could only muster 86 off their allotted overs, Attenborough got home with the loss of just two wickets.

South African Brad Moses (78*) made a good start for Radcliffe on Trent, however Chris Holden (7 for 41) was the real star man as Balderton slumped to 128 in pursuit of the visitors 196.

Simon Neal’s first game in the South Notts resulted in a century as Unity Casuals ended with 197, Southwell’s Matt Wookey taking with 5 for 29. In reply John Richardson hit a half century and Dave Makey 43, however it was left to veteran Jim Scott (21*) to see the visitors home with just four balls to spare.

The game of the day on paper in Division B saw promotion contenders Rolls Royce Leisure and Eastwood lock horns at Hucknall. On a typical early season wicket, Eastwood struggled early doors but some indifferent bowling allowed Neil Gregory (58) and Ikram Ul Haq (45) to get away. There was the familiar collapse when Gregory ran himself out but a total of 187 for 9 was more than useful. It proved to be far too many for poor Rolls, only Richard Arberry (60) had the stomach for a fight as Ul Haq (4 for 29) and Umar (2 for 15) exploited the conditions beautifully.

There was an explosive start at Kimberley as  Gotham’s Shane Litchfield (43) went about his usual business, cracking four sixes and two fours against the new ball. Fourteen year old Prabhdip Sidhu (3 for 53) helped keep the visitors in check later but a useful total of 203 had been posted. In reply there were fifties from Danny Williams and Steve Bennett, but it was the experience of skipper Andy Platts that was the telling factor in the end as his unbeaten 38 saw Kimberley through with 5 balls to spare.

Another side to look out for are Loughborough Carillon as their students excelled at Kirkby Portland (118) with Chris Peploe (79) and Cameron Flitten starring in the teams 76 run success. At Clifton Village, not even 6 wickets for skipper Eddie Pidduck and 52 from ex Notts Amateur Nadeem Akhtar could stop Ellerslie falling to defeat with Pete Fairhall (5 for 49) and Dominic Robinson (4 for 13) being the game winners.     

In the Eastside derby, three wickets apiece fro Belvoir’s James Fellows, Richard Gadd and Matt Irvine helped restrict Bottesford to 127. In a nail biting finale it was left to Irvine (26*), playing against his former club to see Belvoir home with one wicket to spare.

It was bad day at the office for newly promoted Fiskerton in C as they were hammered by 112 runs at home to Hyson Green Caribs (259 for 4). Radcliffe’s seconds first game in the division after a two year exile ended with a losing draw as a second successive fifty for Steve James saw Plumtree  Seconds take the majority of the spoils.

David Pipes has been sorely missed by Collingham over the past couple of seasons, the club has spiralled down from the Premier League to C in the space of just three years. However, Pipes first game back from a serious injury was a successful one as his 84 saw the visitors past Nottingham’s 179 with seven wickets intact.

Hucknall’s form in the second half of 2007 was excellent and they continued the trend on Saturday with a close fought seven run victory at home to West Bridgfordians (179).

Into D and the outstanding performance came from Matt Shaw as his 7 for 22 was the catalyst behind Risley’s success at Thurgarton (128). Despite six wickets for David King, Stanton by Dale (103) slumped to a second successive defeat as Long Whatton (181) ran out easy winners.

The first of two ties in the league came in Division E where Southwell II entertained Thrumpton. Chasing 185 for victory, the visitors must have thought they had passed the winning post thanks to Steve Weightman (66) and Mark Payne (44). However, an LBW victim for James Wookey with five balls remaining meant the honours were shared, Wookey’s seven wickets ensured a day to remember for the family.

There was an early finish at Nuthall as four wickets apiece for Mick Mason and Paul Raynes bowled out Hucknall II for 59. In the battle of the two promoted sides, Gedling Colliery II just came out on top at home to Caythorpe III thanks to an unbeaten 83 from returnee Zaheer Rehmann and four wickets for veteran Mike Bailey.

In Division F, Hoveringham are attempting an incredible sixth successive promotion and four wickets from Brett Lear and three from Rashid Akhtar ensured a winning start at West Bridgford Legion (86). It was good news also for the other promoted side, Kinoulton who had Steve Harling (5 for 33) and Shaun Campbell (5 for 19) to thank for their 36 run win at Bottesford II (77).

Wymeswold had a mixed season in 2007 but fifties from Richard Bowley and Paul Brain ensured 2008 got off to the best possible start at Collingham II (103).

Into G and Oxton’s winning run from 2007 continues as Chris Berry (44 and 2 for 31) was the man of the match in his team’s nine run win at Beeston Sycamore (142).Elsewhere, Lowdhams Ross Miller’s five wicket haul  ensured a successful fight back for Lowdham who managed to defend 108 at Epperstone (77).

Whatton and Aslockton have endured a miserable couple of seasons with successive relegations.  However,  2008 in H  started brightly with a resounding nine wicket victory at newly promoted Lambley (109), Alex White and Simon Wallace each grabbing three wickets.

There was better news for another promoted side, Burton Joyce in J as 63 from Kris Seymour and 4 for 17 from Scott Pratt saw their side to a three wicket success at Basford Hall OB (153 for 8).

Continuing in J Bingham’s sixteen year old starlet Richard Shipman had a game to remember. Firstly he struck 58 as his side totalled 166 at Sutton Bonington. However Shipman was only just getting warmed up as his 8 for 16 triggered a career best and bowling performance of the day as the home side crashed to 71 all out.

Thurgarton II in L are another side who have struggled in recent seasons and it must have been déjà vu at first yesterday when they could only manage 80 at Belton. Enter Calum Williams though whose five wicket haul handed the visitors a rare and surprise victory, Belton eventually falling twenty eight runs shy of victory.

There was agony for Mark Fish of Fiskerton II who was dismissed one short of a century ay Newark II in Division M. There was some consolation though as his side recorded a comfortable 71 run success. There was also a personal best in the division as 14 year old Alistair Munroe hit a maiden fifty as Radcliife on Trent III won at Lowdham II.

The second tie of the league came in N as West Bridgfrodians III and Ruddington II could not be separated on 95. Clive Notman of West Bridgford and Tajamal Rashid of Ruddington each grabbed five wickets apiece. Matt Murfin (5 for 2) recorded the division’s best figures though as his Chilwell II side demolished Snibston Grange (28)

 The division’s best performance in P came from 16 year old Connor Wheeldon of Shepshed Town IV who took 4 for 9. Yet it was all in vain as Hoveringham squeezed past the 83 runs set for victory with three wickets remaining.

In R there was an excellent debut from Bingham II’s twelve year old keeper Tom Spencer who conceded just the two byes. Thirteen year old George Farrell also had a share of the limelight with three wickets, but it was visitors Beeston Sycamore III (160) who had the last laugh recording a 41 run success.

Finally, early season wickets usually bring their fair share of low scores due to the bowler friendly conditions.  I wonder if anybody could foresee the outcome at East Leake II though. Visiting Belvoir were shot out for 60 thanks to six wickets from Sam Marshall. Incredibly East Leake were dismissed for just 14 which is the Leagues second lowest score ever (Poplars dismissed for 9).