South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

There was added spice to the Division A local derby between Attenborough and Long Eaton as both teams had recorded victories in their opening two games. In the end it was the dad’s army of Long Eaton who came out on top thanks to an astonishing performance by their all rounder Umar Hassan.

After being put into bat, Hassan almost carried his bat before holing out in the penultimate over for a chanceless 112, his second century of the season. Having said that, Attenborough would have been content to restrict the visitors to 182 as two wickets apiece for teenagers Chris Allcoat and Dominic Harvey helped keep the innings in check.

All this became immaterial after Hassan’s fiery new ball burst which contained the prize wickets of Alex McKinlay first ball and South African Craig Woods (23) who recklessly miscued a hook straight to Andy Edge at gully. There was a lull in proceedings as skipper Andy Simkiss and Ben Sheppard attempted in vain to repair the damage, yet the end was in sight as soon as Hassan returned for his second spell. Attenborough were dismissed for 104 as Hassan collected an eight wicket haul. His individual performance on the day was a league record and so far this season the Pakistani has 276 runs and 17 wickets to his name from three games.

Remaining at the helm with Long Eaton are Gedling and Sherwood who comfortably disposed of Keyworth (168) by eight wickets. It was another overseas star here that was man of the match with Indian Samrat Sharma striking 88 in the winners total. Radcliffe move up to third with a fifteen run victory over Southwell (164). Long serving Ian Dodd top scored with 77 for Radcliffe and South African Brad Moses chipped in with four wickets. However it was left to promising pace man Eddie Torr to collect the final wicket with five balls remaining.

After a surprisingly sluggish start, Balderton (229 for 6) are up and running collecting sixteen points from a winning draw against inconsistent Calverton (197 for 6). Chris Dobbie and Dominic Wiffin hit fifties for Balderton who will be hoping for even better things once Ishan Ratnayake hits form.

Something had to give in the bottom of the table clash at Newstead and Unity (183 for 9) came out on top as the home team could only manage 163 for 5. Top scorer for Newstead was new arrival Irfan Uddin (45*) and the side need performances from him and fast.

There is no stopping Eastwood Town at the top in Division B as they put previously unbeaten Belvoir to the sword at Knipton. Opener Stuart Hill, who has endured a difficult couple of seasons, hit form with a tremendous innings of 122. Aided by Ikram  Ul Haq (54) and Dean Blake (25), the visitors amassed 308. Belvoir were in trouble mid innings with six cheap wickets lost, however some dogged resistance from Tony Dyer (62*) and John Copley (24*)helped the home side avoid outright defeat.

Performance of the day in B was from Usman Muzaffer of Clifton Village II whose 8 for 30 bowled Kimberley II out for 153. In reply there was three wickets for left arm seamer Steve Bennett, but Clifton got home with three wickets intact thanks to an unbeaten 65 from David McDermott and 21 from skipper Luke Gunn. The pair shared a match winning eighth wicket partnership of 46.

At the bottom the nightmare continues for Rolls Royce who slumped to their third straight defeat. However, at least they put up a fight this week before Kirkby Portland (133 for 8) successfully chased the target set.

Even at this early stage it looks bleak for Bottesford. The wily old left arm of Ellerslie’s Phil Lafbery (5 for 33) was too much for the home side as they collapsed to 79 all out in pursuit of 179.

The top two met in Division C and the Collingham came out victorious over Hyson Green Carrington Caribs thanks to veterans Paul Todd (46), Joe Edge (35) and Mick Coote (6 – 41).  Elsewhere in C, Fiskerton are up and running as fellow strugglers Nottingham (107) failed to chase down the 146 target set. Alistair Hall (4 for 29) and Kevin Rees (3 for 31) did the damage with the ball for the winners.

In Division D, Attenborough II are reaping the rewards of a strong first team as they put paid to Wilsons and their unbeaten record. The losers had no answer to the bowling of Arjan Singh who collected a second consecutive five wicket haul. Ian Baddeley (33*) made sure there were no alarms in chasing the measly 82 target.

Poor Newark again narrowly failed to win off the final ball of the game. This time, Risley (201) were the victors by four runs, thanks in the main to brothers Paul (99) and Marc Addison (65). A win at last for Stanton by Dale who won at Thurgarton (161 for 6). It was a reasonable total set  in a 36 over game, the prolific Colin Cliff (79) top scoring for the home side. However, Jon Patching (52) more renowned for his bowling and Ian Bellamy (51) saw the visitors home with four wickets remaining.

There are new leaders in E as Thrumpton thumped lowly Calverton (142 for 7) by nine wickets, veteran SteveWeightman (63*) and ex Radcliffe man Khan Forbes (52) the chief contributors.  Thrumpton are top due to a surprise defeat for Nuthall at previously winless Caythorpe III.

There was also a first defeat for Underwood (176 for 9). Home team Gedling Colliery II made light work of the run chase in just 33 overs thanks to 78 not out from Rob Clapham and 73 from Zaheer Rehman who has returned to the club after a season with Ellerslie.

Talking of Ellerslie, their second team suffered their first setback of the season at home to Chilwell (212 for 8) in F as Jason Wooliscroft 99 fell agonisingly short of a landmark. Ellerslie II fell some way short on 127.

Wooliscroft wasn’t the only unlucky player in the division as Stuart Walton of Hoveringham matched his achievement. The home side (210) had far too much in the tank for visitors wymeswold (122). Elsewhere in F there was a fine individual performance from 13 year old Adeel Shafiqe who struck 79 out of his Unity Casuals II total of 155. It was all to no avail though as 76 from Tom Richards and 42 from Steve Harling saw Kinoulton home.

Newly promoted Kirkby Portland II lead the way in G. There was another fine display with the ball from 13 year old Connor Fleming (3 for 37) as they restricted  home side Oxton to 113. Chris Graham (4 for 21) gave the losers some hope, but Adie Severn was the hero hitting the winning boundary with just two balls to spare.

After an opening day defeat, East Bridgford have hit back to win three games, the latest being revenge for the loss at Epperstone in April. Tom Phillipson (5 for 44) was the match winner as the winners successfully defended 125.

There was the added bonus of being able to watch the FA Cup Final for leaders Whatton and Aslockton  in H after demolishing Cotgrave for just 39. Alex White (6 for 12) and Simon Wallis (3 for 22) were the chief perpetrators.

Geoff Spurr of Lambley carried his bat and contributed 99 out of his sides 143 at home to Gedling and Sherwood II. The visitors pinch hitter Michael Phillips smacked 68 in reply as the winners moved up to fourth. Elsewhere, Loughborough Carillon II looked to the heavens and found Godhania as his five wickets bowled them to success at Bramcote II.

In J its three wins out of three fro Burton Joyce, this time by three wickets at Rolls Royce II (116), the Wyatt brothers each taking three wickets for the victors. Struggling Stapleford at last had something to smile about as the Gelder brothers of  Darren (37 and 4 for 31), and Neil (37 and 4 for 37) won them the game at home to Belvoir II for whom Mike Ebb and John Gulson Senior struck fifties.

Caunton set a testing 201 for victory at Flintham in K, T rose top scoring with 65. In reply though, a partnership between A Hemstock (70*) and R Traffel (75) eased the home side through to the top of the top of the table. They are joined at the helm by Lenton Abbey who triumphed by three wickets at Breaston (109).

The league’s highest individual score came at Attenborough where Richard Henson (132*) achieved the accolade for the home side. Visiting Kimberley III came a poor second, being dismissed for 101 in pursuit of 224.

Leaders Keyworth II maintained their good form in L, Dave Garland (51*) and Andy Cowlard (40 & 6 for 36) the chief contributors to their 67 run success at home to Thurgarton II (137).

Stanton by Dale II have slipped down the league in recent seasons. However Saturday was a day of celebration with a an opening stand of 171 between old hands John Salisbury (68*) and Dave Alton (64*) which brought a ten wicket success at home to Lambley II (170).

A strong Gedling Colliery III head Division M in its early days. Matt McBride picking up a “five fer” in their 19 run win at Shepshed Town III (137). Keep an eye on Fiskerton II though who brushed past Plumtree III (101) with ease, Dick Stead (38* and 5 for 19) being the match winner. 

In N, Kirkby Portland III are emulating the success of their second team at present. The thirds head the table after crushing Snibston Grange II (106) by nine wickets. Matt Hallam demolished the home side with 7 for 19, whilst 65 from Jeff Newcombe ensured the target was obtained in just 15 overs.

The brother and sister Hayes combination was the catalyst behind Wymeswold II’s  33 run win over struggling Radcliffe on Tent IV (138) in P. Firstly Louisa struck and unbeaten 50 then 13 year old Jack snaffled four victims in the visitors reply.

Cotgrave II made it a weekend to forget for the club as six wickets for Eric Norris enabled Hoveringham II to bowl the home side for just 42, three better than the first team.

There was a maiden fifty for 15 year old Tom Bradshaw for Kinoulton II, but it still wasn’t enough to secure victory at home to Thrumpton III (173). Finally, congratulations to East Leake II who had made a poor start  to life in R. However five wickets from Rob Peatmount and three from Rob Cowdell ensured a first win of the season at home to Gedling Colliery IV (102).