South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Long Eaton are now outright leaders of Division A following a six wicket win at Notts Unity Casuals (145 – 8). Umar Hassan’s three wicket haul took him to 24 for the season whilst left arm spinner  Mark Harrison chipped in with 3 for 46. In reply, left hander Andy Edge (45) top scored as the visitors got home with eight balls to spare.

Long Eaton go clear due to a heavy defeat for Gedling and Sherwood at Attenborough. Early pressure was exerted by Martin Rayner (1 for 19 off 16 overs), Sam Clulow and fifteen year old Dominic Harvey (3 for 21). Only Carl Blake (48) offered much resistance as South African spinner Craig Woods (4 for 30) mopped up the middle and late order to dismiss the visitors for 113. After tea, Alec McKinlay impressed with a chanceless unbeaten 52 as the home side cruised to an eight wicket win.

Radcliffe on Trent remain third after defeating bottom club Newstead Village (146) by 22 runs. Ian Dodd top scored with 50 for the home side, for Newstead, overseas star Irfanuddin made his first major contribution taking 5 for 31. The Pakistani  joint top scored with 28 in response and the visitors were well in with a shout at 120 for 5. However the return of Eddie Torr ripped the tail end apart, Torr finishing with 6 for 27.

Keyworth appear to be struggling to adapt to life in the top grade as they came out second best at Calverton. Ex Notts CCC man David Fraser Darling smacked a ton for the home side as they set an imposing 239 for victory. Despite 44 from skipper Steve Rendu and 43 from new signing Alex Sherriston the visitors fell 36 runs short and settled for a losing draw.

Finally in A, not even a captain’s performance from David Rimmer (35 & 6 for 46) could inspire Southwell (122 for 8) to success at Balderton (151 for 8). Both teams remain in the wrong end of the table.   

Top dogs Eastwood had their home game with Gotham called off due to a waterlogged outfield leaving Loughborough Carillon to close the gap in B. Australian Cameron Flitten must love playing against Kirkby Portland adding 5 wickets to his 6 against the visitors on the opening day. Loughborough comfortably passed the 117 target with seven wickets intact.

There are signs that Rolls Royce Leisure are in recovery, following up a victory last week with a 16 point winning draw at Bottesford. Wasim Karim (135) hit the days highest score and skipper Gordon Pearson weighed in with 50 as the Hucknall side posed an insurmountable 250. In reply, returnee Nick Silverwood struck an unbeaten century as the home side closed on 197 for 5.

Kimberley seconds ended their three match losing sequence in some style, hammering Ellerslie (122) by eight wickets. Steve Bennett sowed the seeds of victory with the ball with figures of 4 for 18 off 16 overs. Kimberley lost a couple of early wickets in the chase but Jac Coupland (55*) and James Griffiths (41*) ensured there were no further alarms.

Its as you were in Division C as Collingham march on, crushing Hickling (146) by 100 runs, David Dakin (90*) and Mick Coote (5 for 29) being the match winners.  Hyson Green Carrington Caribs remain third, but only just as Fiskerton (143 for 9) pushed them all the way before the winners got home with two wickets remaining.

Second placed Hucknall entertained proverbial strugglers Nottingham. After being inserted into bat, the home side had Adam Brown (36) displaying some early attacking strokes, yet Tom Tebbutt (4 for 48) reaped rewards for some accurate bowling as Hucknall slumped to 86 for 5. It was left to veteran Andy Wagstaff (86) to marshal the lower order. He shared in useful stands with Adam Scott and Tom Carlisle as the final total crept passed 200. Nottingham’s out cricket was impressive, the highlight being an outstanding one handed catch from Adrian Knowles at deep mid wicket.

It was an encouraging sight for the home side to give the new ball to 17 year old Tom Carlisle and 15 year old Max Thompson and they duly responded by picking up the wickets of Sultan and Shaw. Arslan Shah (50) looked menacing though and together with Adam Peel (29) they took the total past the 100 mark to leave the match evenly poised. However the introduction of slow left armer Scott (2 for 27) swung the game back to Hucknall and when both Knowles and Lyas fell cheaply to Braybrooke it was now a case of whether Hucknall could force outright victory. Dogged resistance came in the form of Joe Mitchell and Josh Reed (35) and the innings closed on 155 for 7 with the home side claiming 17 points.

The form book got turned on his head in Division D as leaders Attenborough II came a cropper at previously winless Newark. It all went to plan for the visitors to begin with as a third five wicket haul of the season for Arjan Singh saw the home side dismissed for 96. However Newark roared back and Ian Black grabbed five wickets also as Attenborough were shot out for 56.

Risley (114 for 8) took full advantage of this slip as five wickets for Danny Gough and four for Andy Shaw helped bowl out visitors Wilsons for. At the bottom, Willoughby claimed their first success of the season, albeit a close one at home to Stanton by Dale. The losers have the divisions leading wicket taker in Dave King, but even his six wicket haul was not enough as the home side passed the 128 target with two wickets and nine deliveries remaining.

No change at the top in E as Nuthall (117 for 2) put Southwell II to the sword (113), AJ Marsh top scoring with 59 in the win. Underwood (102) remain hot on their heels though as Will Wilson (5 for 20) and Andrew Eames (4 for 10) blasted out Hucknall II for 65.

After an encouraging start Thrumpton have lost their momentum and on Saturday they collapsed to 48 all out on a rain affected wicket at home to Gedling Colliery II. Gareth Hayes was the chief perpetrator claiming 6 for 26, however Gedling didn’t have things all their own way as they lost five wickets in reply.

With Division F leaders Chilwell’s game being postponed, Hoveringham took full advantage with a thrilling win at Eastwood Town II (128). Hoveringham fell to 18 for 3 in pursuit, but Ben Lee (49) and Pete Wood (24) put the visitors on track to the extent that only 14 runs were required off the final six overs. However the pair of Jordan Lee (3 for 25) and Mark Smith (3 for 24) refused to give up and victory was only achieved with two balls to spare.

Kinoulton move into joint second after winning at Ellerslie II whilst the accolade of the divisions highest score went to Richard Shelton of Wymeswold as his 92 paved the way for a straightforward success at home to Bottesford II.

After a quiet start to the campaign, Adie Severn of Kirkby Portland II is certainly making up for lost time in Division G. Severn grabbed 6 victims to add to the four last Saturday as Ravenshead were all out for 130. In form Rob Britton hit an unbeaten 56 in the winners reply.

Kirkby stretched their lead at the helm due to a defeat for East Bridgford at Beeston Sycamore. Tom Phillipson of the losers maintained his purple patch with six wickets as the home side totalled 144. However the winners had heroes of their own in Steve Pratt (5 for 27) and Tony Norton (4 for 33) as East Bridgford fell to 130 all out.

Another bowler enjoying the early season conditions is Alex White of Whatton and Aslockton. The Division H star took 6 for 31 as fancied Hyson Green II were bowled out for 68 in H. The clash between the second and third placed teams was a thriller as Gedling and Sherwood II (175) fell nine runs short of the target set by Loughborough Carillon II.

Its going to take a good side to stop Burton Joyce in Division J. Scott Pratt top scored for the winners, making 71 out of the 145 at home to Sutton Bonington who plunged to just 15 all out in reply. Pratt completed a superb game by taking 6 for 8 and he was aided and abetted by Ken Scholey who snaffled the remaining wickets to fall.

Elsewhere in J there were runs for the Wyatt brothers of Mark and Keith who both scored unbeaten fifties as their Basford Hall OB team won convincingly at Stapleford (111). Also an opening stand of 104 between Coln Spragg (63) and Stuart Smedley (67*) was the catalyst behind West Bridgfordians II nine wicket success at Belvoir II (160). West Bridgfordians and Basford lie second and third respectively.

There was no game for Flintham in K so it was an ideal opportunity for the chasing pack to catch up, and it proved to be a successful venture for Attenborough III, Lenton Abbey and Caunton. Lenton had Kimberley III ‘Tighed’ up as Chris Tigh(5 for 15) and David Tigh (4 for 8) bowled the visitors out for 77 in pursuit of 116 whilst Dave Bracegirdle produced match winning figured of 6 for 8 as his Caunton team demolished Risley II (52).

Its five wins out for Caythorpe IV in L as 67 from Ian Hart and 58 from Simon Park set up a 22 run win at home to Thurgarton II (186). A strong Long Whatton II side (272)  had too much in the tank for bottom club Lambley II (72) with first team skipper Jon Platts top scoring with 93.

Mark Fish of Fiskerton II continued his run feast passing 350 for the season to date with 73 in Saturday’s four wicket win at Shepshed III (177). Fiskerton stay second and Balderton II climb to third after Paul Colcombe (5 for 6) destroyed Lowdham II (63).

There are new leaders in N as Ellerslie III take over  following a 61 run win at Kirkby Portland III (85), Tom Shield (4 for 4) claiming the man of the match. Ellerslie’s elevation came about after a surprise defeat at Newstead Village III for whom Andy Salmon returned figures of 6 for 5.

A first defeat for Hoveringham II in P, they remain at the summit though despite wins for nearest rivals Wymeswold II and Wollaton III.

The leagues best bowling performances were reserved for Division R with no fewer than three games seeing seven wickets hauls. Richard “Awesome” Chambers claimed 7 for 16 as Beeston Sycamore hammered Poplars (31), James Whitchurch of East Leake II took 7 for 21 in their success at Edingley II. The best was reserved for Luke Elderkin who took 7 for 7 as his Eastwood Town III side triumphed at home to Bingham II.