South Nottinghamshire Cricket League

Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report Saturday 12 July 2008

By Phil Johnson

In Division A its pretty much a case of as you were as the top five all recorded wins or winning draws on Saturday.

Leaders Gedling and Sherwood put last weeks defeat behind them by remaining top following a five wicket win at mid table Calverton. In a game reduced to 36 overs per side Calverton struggled to get going and eventually finished on 138, for the winners, Gerry Cruise who has been performing well in the second team took 4 for 39. In reply, Gedling suffered a couple of scares but 62 from Samrat Sharma and 36 from John Gell saw the leaders home with eight deliveries remaining.

There were runs at last for Attenbrough’s top order as South African Craig Woods (55) and Mick Aplin (49) led the way in a total of 174 against Newstead Village. For the bottom club, Andy Paulson who has struggled with injury this season was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 38. After tea James Hemstock dug in but precious few other batsmen followed suit, particularly against the bowling of Martin Rayner whose 16 overs cost just 13 runs. Rayner also picked up three wickets in the process and Newstead finished on 101 for 9.

Third placed Radcliffe on Trent were inserted into bat by visitors Balderton and the game began quietly with the score 58 for 2 at drinks, the only highlight being an excellent caught and bowled by Ishan Ratnayake to dismiss the in form Brad Moses in single figures. The tempo increased after the break thanks in the main to Ian Dodd, although the visitors will be rueing not taking the two catches and 1 stumping he offered in the space of three overs. Aided by Frankie Brown (33) and Michael Bratt (30) and with ten overs remaining, a score in excess of 210 looked a possibility. However some good bowling at the death by Ratnayake and David Lynn meant the home side closed on 189 with Dodd carrying his bat on 92.

Balderton, missing the ill Tim Clipsham, struggled early doors as Chris Holden picked up three cheap wickets, however skipper Alan Jackson (52) and Chris Dobbie (47) showed the fight which bodes well in their battle for survival. With 15 overs remaining, an unlikely victory looked a prospect but the pair were dismissed at vital times and when the dangerous Ratnayake (15) was brilliantly caught by Dodd at short mid wicket, the visitors shut up shot, closing on 150 for 8.

Struggling Keyworth did well to restrict Long Eaton to 125 in a reduced overs game at West Park. However the batting frailties reared their ugly head as the visitors were shot out for 72 in pursuit. For the winners, Alan Villiers (4 for 32) doubled his tally for the season whilst Craig Mellors (3 for 9) continues to regain his confidence.

Unity Casuals remain in touch after gaining 17 points in a winning draw at Southwell who couldn’t build on last weeks excellent victory at Gedling. Unity have really benefited from Simon Neal being available all season and he gain top scored with 73 in his sides 170. Southwell were never really in the hunt in reply and closed on 126 for 8.

There was a quick return fixture in B as leaders played host to third placed Clifton Village II. Eastwood’s score of 200 was a combined effort with Neil Gregory making 60, Ejaz Ahmed (46) and Steven Leese (39).  Clifton had got to 89 for 2 and the game looked in the balance, until Dean Blake picked up the ball and removed danger man Richard Harrison (29). Despite 46 from David McDermott Clifton were now up against it and a flurry of late wickets left the visitors clinging on at 154 for 9. For the leaders, Blake took 4 for 40, whilst Umar Awan, who is impressing in his first season with club ended with 3 for 50.

This result was good news for second placed Belvoir who convincingly triumphed in the Eastside derby at Bottesford. For Belvoir, James Clayfield scored exactly 100 as the visitors ended with a daunting 235 whilst Ian Wright, recently transferred from Gedling Colliery battled well to take 6 for 59. After the interval Matt Irvine, playing against his former club and Richard Gadd claimed three wickets apiece as the home side were bowled out for 130. The losers have failed to build on their first win a fortnight ago and now must win at least four out of their remaining seven games to stand a chance of survival.

One club who shouldn’t be written out of the promotion picture is Ellerslie who chalked up their fourth straight win against a Kimberley II side that just didn’t turn up. Ellerslie’s attack has been strengthened considerably with the acquisition of ex Unity man Kirmany Gregorie mid season. Gregorie picked up three wickets, as did Eddie Pidduck and Jurgen Charlesworth as Kimberley could manage only 133. In reply, Pidduck made light work of  the chase, blasting an unbeaten 97 as the runs were knocked off in just 21 overs.

Another good day for Hucknall at the top in C. Robin Maxwell (92) made his first major contribution since leaving Kimberley, he was backed up David Roe who made 59 in a testing 230. Home side Plumtree II made a decent fist but in the end fell 35 runs short as Lee Smith and Adam Scott grabbed four wickets apiece.

Hyson Green Carrington Caribs, who have had some indifferent results of late, made no mistake on Saturday after hammering Radcliffe on Trent II. The losers, who are now hovering dangerously above the relegation spots could only muster 62. Yet even that was an improvement on the 13 for 8 they were at one stage!  For Caribs, Liaquat Ali and Husnain Syed each took 4 for 15. The day got better for the winners with news of a surprising setback for Collingham (159 for 9) who failed to chase down the 192 set by Nottingham.

No problems for leaders Attenborough II (183 for 7) in D as 50 for Ian Baddeley and five wickets for captain Carl Whelan saw off fading Long Whatton (136). Mick Sewell of Thurgarton continued his good form with 91 in his sides win at Risley. Thurgarton remain just outside the promotion places.

Stanton by Dale looked dead and buried a fortnight ago, yet two successive victories have given them hope. The latest, a thrilling one wicket win at Newark (74) was all down to Paul Cowan who achieved career best figures of 7 for 17.

Division E was turned on its head with defeats for the top two. Firstly Underwood (167)  enhanced their promotion prospects with a 39 run win at home to leaders Gedling Colliery II whilst Nuthall were well and truly hammered at Hucknall II (209) managing just 98 in reply. For the winners, Tom Carlisle (59) and Graeme Lake (6 for 25) were the chief contributors.

In F leaders Chilwell’s game was postponed but Kinoulton lost a chance to make up ground, falling to a second successive defeat, this time at home to Bottesford II. Chasing 165 for victory, Rupert Ingleston added 100 to his 76 the previous week as the winners got home with five wickets to spare.

Mid table Wymeswold (187) enjoyed a comfortable win over bottom club Collingham II who actually recovered from 24 to 8 to eventually post 111. For Wymeswold, Richard Bowley (62) and Russ Pitman (5 for 23) were the match winners.

There were straight forward wins for promotion hopefuls East Bridgford and Kirkby Portland II in G. For the latter thirteen year old Connor Fleming (4 for 23) again impressed with the ball.

Game of the day in G was between second placed Oxton and Beeston Sycamore who were the divisions form teams. However, Oxton won at a canter as the losers were skittled out for 89, then Richard Martin struck an unbeaten 55 in the winners reply.

The find of the season in H has undoubtedly been Lee Godhania of Loughborough Carillon II and the fourteen year old was at it again on Saturday taking 7 for 12 as home side Newstead Village II mustered only 85 in reply to the visitors 181.

There was no change at the top in J. Stapleford couldn’t build on last weeks win and collapsed to 45 all out at home to top club West Bridgfordians II for whom Ravi Singh and Kieran Heath snaffled three victims apiece. Whereas Burton Joyce returned to form by beating closest rivals Basford Hall OB (101) by 48 runs with Colin Johnson (6 for 21) the man of the match.

Flintham (132) march on in K, although fellow promotion hopefuls Woodborough pushed them all the way before ending four runs shy of the target. For the leaders, Geoff Peatfield impressed with 5 for 30. Lenton Abbey II lost ground in the race with a defeat at home to Risley II, but no such problems for Caunton (183) who had Jamie McIntyre (72) and John Ward (5 for 28) starring in their victory against Willoughby II (88).

When you are down at the bottom, things contrive to go against you and this certainly was the case for Lambley II in L. Needing four for victory off the final delivery at home to Caythorpe IV, batsmen Ian Bircumshaw smacked the ball boundary bound, only for hit to strike home umpire Rik Morley. The end result was two runs instead of four and seven stitches for Rik!

After a few seasons of struggle, Thurgarton II’s are performing better in 2008 thanks to a number of promising youngsters. One of these, fourteen year old James Taylor had a day to remember at home to Belton. First he made 51 out of his sides 156, then took 6 for 24 as the losers fell 24 runs short.

There are new leaders in M as Gedling Colliery III (103) came a poor second at Plumtree III (179). For the winners Ed Woodcock cracked a superb 95. Fiskerton II took full advantage and climbed to the top after bowling Newark II out for just 38 with Andrew Polkey and Phil Zdanaowski each grabbing five wickets.

Elsewhere in M there was evidence that age is no barrier for cricket. Firstly Radcliffe on Trent III’s win at home to Lowdham II(92) included four wickets for 70 year old Derek Gilchrist, whilst Hucknall III’s total of 113 included 31 from number 11 Roger Braybrook who is retiring this year after being a wonderful servant to the club.

 Leaders West Bridgfordians III had a straight forward win at Ruddington II at N, however previously second Broad Street came a cropper against closest rivals Farndon II. Mike Cupit hit 84 out of 166 for the losers who were pegged back by John Curtis (4 for 17) and Stuart Hay (4 for 42). The winners chase posed few scares and the target was chased down in only 26 overs.

Finally in R its congratulations to Edingley II who chalked up their first victory of the season. They did it with some style too, after scoring 161, three wickets each for Matthew Clarke and Matthew Gill helped shoot Kinoulton II out for just 38!