Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report Saturday 29 August 2009

By Phil Johnson

After a dismal run of form the relegation trap door finally came for Eastwood Town in Division A. Starting the day next to bottom, Eastwood needed maximum points and hope that other results go their way. However, a difficult week off the pitch meant that a weakened side took to the field at home to Southwell.

The visitors had Chris Miller (39) and Kiwi Patrick Whelan (54) in the runs early doors but Eastwood would have been happy entering the last ten overs with Southwell on 130 for 5. Unfortunately, George Bacon chose today to show his full potential, striking a classy fifty to take the game away from the home side who again had young Luke Elderkin (4 for 74) impressing.

Chasing 213 for victory, both Adam Leigh (27) and Stuart Hill (43) got starts and now, with a long tail it was left firmly in the hands of skipper Neil Gregory and Steven Leese. However the run rate crept up to 10 an over and the cause was not helped with the evening sun making batting at one end extremely difficult.  The end was nigh with the dismissals in quick successions of Gregory (39) and Leese (30) which left Eastwood’s tail hopelessly exposed and 30  runs adrift. For Southwell, spinner Matt Wookey continued his fine end to the season with 4 for 32.

There still may be a final twist to the relegation saga in all divisions. If two South Notts clubs come down from the Premier League then there may be three relegated in each division. In A that team would be Long Eaton, who, like Eastwood have endured an alarming slump down the table.

On Saturday at Balderton, Alan Villiers did an excellent job in run restriction, so much so that the home side had made just 41 for the loss of two wickets at drinks. However that was as good as it got for Long Eaton as Dominic Wiffin (93*) and Chris Dobbie (45) cut loose to leave the visitors 190 for victory. This total never looked on once Tim Taylor (35) and Leon Botha (30) had been dismissed as Ishan Ratnayake (4 for 19) enjoyed a good day with the ball. Long Eaton finished on 128 for 9 and will now nervously await the remaining Premier League results for the next fortnight.

Both Gedling clubs won on the final day to ensure their survival. Gedling and Sherwood’s was the most impressive, overcoming champions Radcliffe on Trent although the lure of the Leeds Festival was too much for half of their title winning side!

Radcliffe, after being a good start from Marc Ellison (84) crashed from 116 for 1 to 161 all out as spin took control in the form of Samrat Sharma (4 for 24) and the rejuvenated Alex Norton (3 for 21). In reply, Simon Ward took two early wickets, including Sharma’s but Paul MacMillan, who has had a quiet season by his own high standards fired an unbeaten fifty, and together with support from Tom Morley (39) and John Gell (35) the winners got home with five wickets remaining.

Colliery made sure that Calverton’s last game in A for the time being was a miserable one. Only Harry Bharker (61) offered resistance in a total of 152 with the wickets shared around. After tea, bothers Jeff (84) and Graham Burton (47*) ensured there were no alarms in the chase.

The remaining game in A was a race for the runners up spot. Unity Casuals had Gurpej Landa (83) in the runs again in a final score 216. Darren Bicknell took four wickets for Belvoir but had a rare failure with the bat, however the winners needn’t have worried as Tom Neville cracked a brilliant 121 to bring victory with a little over eight overs remaining.

Despite being inactive on Saturday, a much deserved promotion finally came for Hyson Green Caribs in B. This came about as a result of a shock defeat for Gotham village at relegated Keyworth. The game very nearly didn’t take place with vandals destroying the Keyworth ground. All credit to Gotham for not settling for their average and arranging the game to be played at Farnborough Road.

Gotham could only manage 166 though as Dave Hiller grabbed four wickets. Keyworth’s weakness has been in their batting but for once they came good with Dave Strong (61) and Adam Somekh (43) the chief run getters in a four wicket win. Loughborough will definitely finish ion the top two after defeating fading Clifton Village II (179) by six wickets.

Nick Silverwood (80) batted well for Clifton but the total posed few problems for openers John Harrison (41) and Richard Billam (41) which paved the way nicely for Shane Litchfield who smashed an unbeaten 63 in 46 balls.

Loughborough’s transfer to the Leicestershire League means that Rolls Royce will complete the comeback of all comebacks if they gain eight points at relegated Kimberley II next week to achieve promotion.

Talking of Kimberley II, their wretched season will finally be over next week and that won’t be too soon after receiving another pummelling, this time from Hucknall II. Shaun Cauldwell continued his late season form with a superb 121 and Lee Smith rubbed salt into the wounds late on with 52. Chasing an unlikely 279 for victory, the visitors could only muster 70 with Martyn Wagstaff securing a five wicket haul.

Another team who have had a wretched season are Newstead Village who were put to the sword at home to Ellerslie. The one bright spot of Newstead’s 84 was 28 from 15 year old Adam Kalka as Husnain Riaz (5 for 26) and Saqib Mirza (3 for 29) ran through the batting. Riaz’s day wasn’t done as he fired 53 against a weakened bowling attack to get the win in just 14 overs.

The merry go round which has been Division C became a little more clear cut with promotion secured at the first attempt for Kirkby Portland following a comfortable eight wicket win at home to relegated Bramcote (116). For the winners, Gary Glenn (56*) and Tom Newcombe (4 for 45) played the leading roles. Collingham, after a poor second half are finally out of it despite gaining a tie with fellow contenders Radcliffe II (160). Another team who gave up the chase on Saturday was West Bridgfordians who failed to chase down 158 at home to Bottesford whose safety was ensured thanks to victory. For the winners, Alisdair Culpin, on a rare outing, destroyed the middle order taking 6 for 27 in an 18 run success. All this means that, Plumtree II need 15 points to gain promotion to B, failure will mean Radcliffe II will go up.

At the bottom Hickling gained a priceless four wicket win at home to Wollaton II (172) thanks to Matt Harby (47*), Ian Fisher (39) and Ian Welbourn (36). Defeat for Wollaton II means that they now occupy the other relegation and need Hickling to lose next week to avoid a swift return to D.

It’s been a peculiar end to the season for Gedling Colliery II in D. Saturday saw them gain the championship despite suffering their fifth successive defeat, this time at Thurgarton for whom Colin Cliff (121*) finished the divisions top run scorer again.

Wilsons secured the remaining promotion spot as they thrashed relegated Nuthall (93) with Umar Hussain grabbing a five wicket haul. Fiskerton (104) have pressed the self destruct button in the last three weeks and defeat at Risley (184)meant that their promotion dream was over.

At the bottom, West Bridgfordians II’s fate was finally sealed as they let two winning positions slip in their home game with Long Whatton. Firstly the visitors recovered from 123 for 8 to post 180, nevertheless, Joe Mitchell continued his Indian summer with 5 for 26. Scott Berridge (40) gave the home side a decent start in reply, but from being 81 for 2, the losers collapsed to 114 all out with Danny Beyxer (6 for 21) and Alex Lester (3 for 28) reaping the rewards.

All the promotion and relegation issues had been settled previously in E so it was just a case of who would be champions. Second place Hoveringham put their case forward strongly with Ben Lee firing a fabulous 165 in their 174 hammering of Stanton by Dale (111). This left Thrumpton needing twelve points for the title and a huge performance from Mohammed Aleem (73 and 6 for 44) ensured they got 20 in a fourteen run win at Caythorpe III (193).

One of the most deserved promotions on Saturday came at Oxton where, as mentioned earlier, Eastwood Town II fielded a severely weakened team. Oxton posted 199 and a captain’s performance from Mark Smith (83) had just left Eastwood short of the winning post. Enter teenagers Paul Summers and Ryan Esson who batted superbly and it was Summers who scampered a two on the penultimate delivery to send the winners up.

Oxton gained just six points from this game meaning they could be overtaken by Unity Casuals II who, if they scored a maximum 20 points would send Oxton down instead of them. Unity did the first bit right, dismissing promotion challenging Kirkby Portland II (128), Moshin Qayyum taking five wickets. Now they had to knock the runs off in no more than 32 overs to be safe. Agonisingly they took 35 overs, meaning they finished level with Oxton who stay up by virtue of more wins.

There’s still four fixtures to play in G and its all to play for at both ends of the table. East Leake have come from nowhere to go second following a 99 run win at Ravenshead. However they can be caught by Beeston Sycamore who came a cropper at Loughborough Carillon II (217) for whom Will Relf struck a brilliant 122 in a 41 run success.

At the wrong end West Bridgford Legion gained a remarkable win at home to champions Whatton and Aslockton (61) with Ian Buckley (4 for 23) and Liam Needham (3 for 12) sharing the wickets. Unfortunately, a one wicket defeat at Gotham II (163) spelt the end for Collingham II who succumbed to a third successive relegation.

In H, it was definitely a case of after the Lord Mayors Show for champions Burton Joyce as six wickets for Rachel Scholes earned bottom club Newstead Village II. Lowdham also came a cropper, at nine men Basford Hall OB who had Mark Wyatt (97 and 5 for 19) almost winning the game single handed.

Lowdham’s defeat meant West Bridgfordians could still go up, providing they won at Hyson Green Caribs II (199). However, the home side, needing a win themselves for different reasons, sent out a very strong side with Zaheer Ahmed (71*), Zak Hussein (50) and Monty Douglas (3 for 10) starring in a 77 run success.

Hyson Green’s win meant that Cotgrave needed nine points for survival, however they inexplicably failed to raise a side to play at Snibston Grange and their fate was sealed.

In J Flintham rose to the championship with Matt Lyas cracking 96 out of 156 at home Woodborough as they sealed a seven wicket win. Previous leaders Lenton Abbey (160) came second best at Sutton Bonnington who secure the remaining promotion spot.   

It was winner takes all in K with a title decider between Ruddington and Kimberley III. Ruddington were set 160 for victory but fell 35 runs short with Danny Williams (4 for 16) assisting the winners to the title.

Elsewhere in K, the highlight was a marvellous 120 for Dane Harper of Risley II which was even more impressive considering his previous highest score was just 32.

Balderton II finally clinched promotion in L with Peter (48) and Paul Lambert (30*) making the runs that ensured a six wicket win at home to Underwood II (147).

There was a battle of the top two in M and Hucknall III won it with Alex Pavier (35) and Paul Close (32) making the chief contributions to overhaul the 112 set by Broad Street OB who are also promoted.

In N, Wymeswold II are almost there with 14 year old Jack Hayes (68 and 3 for 59) having another good day in their seven wicket win at home to closes rivals Wollaton III (187).

Kimberley IV’s late form has seen them achieve the great escape in P. Saturday saw Andy Platts strike a superb 132 out of 258 at Hoveringham II who nearly chased the total down but Becky Widdowson’s three wickets were to prove crucial. Beeston & Toton Sycamore III (115/9) are relegated after just one season, despite having the most wins than anyother relegated team, after a tense finish against promotion hopefuls Snibston Grange II (111)

Finally, congratulations  go to Collingham III in R who gain promotion with three wickets apiece for veteran Peter Mason and Adam Payne securing an easy six wicket win at Bingham II (102).