South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

As the league reaches the halfway stage Division A leaders Gedling and Sherwood show no signs of stepping off the pace, disposing of another potential  contender, Radcliffe on Trent on Saturday.

On another belting track at Regatta Way, South African Brad Moses posted his first century for the visitors and at one stage Radcliffe looked set for a total in excess of 200. However it was the spin of Gerry Goodwin (5 for 57) and Alex Norton that again proved decisive as Radcliffe fell away to 170. In reply  Samrat Sharma struck 81 and Kiwi Jason Giblett an unbeaten 36 as the leaders eased to victory.

Second placed Attenborough had to contend with Keyworth’s Ian Graham who hit form with the bat for  the second time this season. Graham smacked 145 out of his teams 214, however his work was not done as after tea Graham got to work with the ball. His mixture of medium pace and spin, together with Rob Baker had the visitors floundering on 130 for 7. One consolation for Attenborough was they had scored their runs in excess of six runs an over, meaning there was no rush for Andrew Simkiss (33*) and Martin Shoemaker (31). Assisted by teenager Dominic Harvey  the game entered its final over with four required for victory, Martin Rayner duly did the honours on the fourth delivery to keep the winners in touch with Gedling.

After a disastrous June, Long Eaton returned to some form, taking seventeen points in a winning draw at home to struggling Southwell. After being invited to bat, Long Eaton lost Umar Hassan early doors which meant a period of consolidation for Tim Taylor (37) and Brett Scothern (30). The introduction of  the 16 year old duo of Alex Rainbow and Matthew Wookey saw the pair pick up a couple of wickets apiece, but Russell Elliott (60*) stood firm and played out his best innings for some time as the home side closed on 196, a testing score on an unusually lively West Park wicket.

Southwell’s reply was a one man crusade as Tim Green scored 73 out of the first 109. Whilst he and Richardson were at the crease there were hopes of victory, however both fell in the same over to Mark Harrison and the chase was more or less over . A fiery second spell from Hassan brought a flurry of wickets and hopes of outright victory but Southwell’s tail held on for a losing draw at 152 for 8.

Two teams that have shown signs of improvement after a slow start are Notts Unity Casuals and Balderton. Unity had Nolan McKenzie in form, striking 114, Simon Neal chipped in with 68 as a formidable 287 was posted.  Visitors Calverton were never really in the hunt as new signing Husnain Riaz from Gedling Colliery grabbed four wickets, skipper Scott Andrew top scored with 59 as the mid table side clung on at the close on 215 for 9.

Another side to hang on perilously were bottom club Newstead Village who had earlier watched Balderton’s Dominic Wiffin hit an unbeaten 103 out of 197. Sri Lankan Ishan Ratnayake then produced a seasons best 6 for 25 but the last pair of Nick Hand and Matt Williams held out for a losing draw on 126 for 9.

In B, leaders Eastwood travelled the couple of miles down the road to Kimberley to an eagerly anticipated local derby, the first in the league for 15 years, and the game didn’t disappoint.

The home sides 230 was very much a team effort with five players scoring over 30. For Eastwood Dave Summers and Dean Blake took the honours with four wickets each. The visitors made a useful start thanks to Adam Leigh (49) and Ejaz Ahmed (28), however, wickets then fell at regular intervals, mainly to Paul Blatherwick (5 for 46) and at 203 for 8 Eastwood looked to be heading for their first reversal. However there was still a chance with the dependable Neil Gregory at the wicket. In Umar Awan he found a willing partner and Gregory finished on a brilliant 63 as the visitors won a pulsating match with four balls to spare.

The day got better for Eastwood with defeats for their nearest challengers. Belvoir lost at Rolls Royce whilst Clifton Village II were defeated at improving Ellerslie. The game looked evenly matched with Ellerslie 112 for 4 in pursuit of 215, until Ananthan Sivayaganthan strode to the wicket and smashed 9 fours and 2 sixes in a quick fire 66, James Povey remained unbeaten on 59 to guide the winners into mid table.

After running Clifton Village II so close last Saturday, Bottesford finally got their season going, and in some style too, hammering Kirkby Portland (82) by 118 runs. They may have a good chance of survival now with the return of Nick Silverwood from Gedling Colliery, Ian Wright has also come with Silverwood whilst Anthony Ablewhite has decided to play again. It was Ablewhite (50) and skipper Jim Ward (57) who were in the runs on Saturday as the visitors amassed exactly 200. The bowling has appeared a little light to date but Lee Fazackerley (5 for 22) bowled the strugglers to victory.

Division C leaders Hucknall pulled off a major coup in midweek with the signing of Robin Maxwell from Kimberley’s first team. Maxwell hit 36 in his debut game but was overshadowed by David Roe who top scored with 72. Chasing 209, visitors Hickling succumbed to the spin duo of Jamie Braybrooke (5 for 29) and Adam Scott (4 for 36) and fell some distance short on 111.

Collingham’s David Pipes turned his arm over at the close of Fiskerton’s innings and helped himself to 5 cheap wickets in a little over three overs as the home side fell away to 192. Pipes’ work wasn’t done though , notching his third century of the season  as he passed  500 runs for the season. Collingham stay second.

Bottom club Nottingham were rueing getting dismissed for 164 in the penultimate over as Plumtree II overcame the target in their extra allocated over. Rob Smith with 58 and 5 for 15 was man of the match for the victors.

After a couple of recent set backs Attenborough II (203) got back to business with a victory. Local rivals Risley ran them close though, falling eight runs shy with two balls remaining. The gap at the top increased with a surprising defeat for Long Whatton at Newark and a slip up for Wollaton II at Thurgarton.

Wollaton II will be kicking themselves as at one stage they only required 23 runs off 7 overs with five wickets in hand. However they pressed the self destruct button as the last four wickets fell to run outs, the losers eventually falling 11 runs short as Thurgarton climb to second. The result was tough on John Christiansen who scored 70 and took three wickets earlier.

 In E Gedling Colliery II look good for a second successive promotion. Visitors Farndon made 154, yet in truth this is rarely sufficient at Mapperley Top and Geoff Moore (106*) and 15 year old James Barnes (39*) made light work of the target.

It was a bad day for fellow contenders Nuthall. Three wickets each for Richard Marsh, Paul Raynes  and Mick Mason restricted Underwood to just 147, but back came the winners and five wickets for Chris Briggs and three for Tom Chalkley saw Nuthall crash to 113, Underwood reduce the gap in third.

Theres no change at the top of F with wins for Chilwell and Kinoulton, although mid table Bottesford II  ran Chilwell close before losing out by two wickets.

Run machine Stuart Walton of Hoveringham cracked 105 out of 231. Struggling Collingham II made a decent fist of it though with Andy Cousins making 65 out of the first 80 in just 15 overs, the home  finally ran out of steam on 207 for 9. Elsewhere in F, Chris Bellaby of Ellerslie II took a hat trick in their thrashing of West Bridgford Legion (72).

There were no games for the top two of Kirkby Portland II and East Bridgford in G but Beeston Sycamore and Oxton both kept the pressure on with victories. For Oxton, James Crudgington (67)again top scored in their three wicket success at Epperstone (153). After a run of disappointing results, East Leake (210) grabbed a much sought after win at Lowdham (170) thanks to four wickets for Norman Guerin and three for Rob Grant.

Another win for top club Whatton and Aslockton in H who are enjoying their best season for years. Things looked bleak for fellow contenders Hyson Green CC II who were shot out for 118 in just 26 overs at home to Lambley. Yet back came the home side and four wickets from Shahid Akhtar enabled a thrilling climax and a tie.

In J, Burton Joyce got back to winning ways at Ruddington. The run chase of 105 was not without its scares though with the leaders losing six wickets before Alan Thorley (66) saw them home. Second and third played each other, resulting in a comfortable victory for West Bridgfordians II at Basford Hall OB with Stuart Smedley (68*) and Tom Barrett (53*) making the game winning contributions.

More runs for Andy Carden of Rolls Royce II who followed up his 131 a fortnight ago with 90 at Belvoir II. He didn’t top score in the innings though as Adam Baker fired 92 in a daunting 256. However these two were eclipsed by James Cartlidge (100*) who made a valiant attempt for victory before his side fell 17 runs short.

Its seven wins out of seven completed games for Flintham in K, their latest success being a 26 run win at Attenborough III (151). Caunton stay on their heels though, as do Lenton Abbey who had Oscar Rana (5 for 31) and James Trafford (47*) starring in their nine wicket demolition of Clifton Village III (106).

It was a bad day for the previous leaders Caythorpe IV in L who were blasted out for 95 by third place Wilsons II who lost only wicket in reply. Keyworth II took full advantage, winning at Belton.

The girls certainly came out on top in the clash between Lambley II and Thurgarton II. The home side were dismissed for 164 with Amy Binch (5 for 30) earning the plaudits. Thurgarton knocked off the runs for the loss of seven wickets, three of those falling to Kirsten Collishaw.

The top two met in M and Gedling Colliery III surged further ahead after thrashing Fiskerton II (140) by nine wickets. Fourteen year old Daniel Whetton took four wickets for the winners whilst in the reply, Mohammed Anjan (80*) ensured there were no slip ups.

Wins for the top two of West Bridgfordians III and Broad Street in N, the latters victory was impressive, seeing off fellow contenders Ellerslie III (139) by nine wickets in just 24 overs thanks to 51 not out form Mike Cupit and 37 from Tom Wilson. Elsewhere ex Eastwood man Phil Allen rolled back the years, hitting 88 as Chilwell II ended Kimberley IV’s mini revival.

Whatton and Aslockton II are emulating the success of their first team in P, leading the pack with seven wins out of eight. In Saturday, Collingham III were no match for the leaders who had Dominic Chambers striking 101. However Grant Mason (121*) eclipsed that score as his Radcliffe on Trent IV side put Shepshed Town IV to the sword.

It wasn’t a good day for the top two in R with first defeats of the season for Beeston  Toton Sycamore III and West Bridgford Legion II. This enabled Gedling Colliery IV and Long Eaton III to make up some ground.  A rare and much needed win for Bingham II (180 for 7) at the bottom who had Patrick Dobb (5 for 25) starring in their win at home to Eastwood III (138).