Southwell (164 for 8), who had two losing draws to their name prior to Saturday, turned the form book on its head with a 16 point  winning draw at home to a below par Long Eaton (121 for 9).  The home side struggled early doors as just 40 runs came off the first 20 overs, this for the loss off two wickets, both falling to left arm spinner Mark Harrison. Following the rain break, there followed a ragged display in the field with some indifferent bowling mixed in with dropped catches and missed stumpings allowed David Makey (47) and Alex Mitchell (47) to post a reasonable total on a slow wicket. Harrison returned later in the innings to snaffle five further victims to end with 7 for 33 but it was generally felt that 164 was 20 runs or so more than what the visitors should have been chasing at the halfway stage.

Long Eaton were well in the game at 50 for 2, but as so often has been the case over the last few years, the bowling partnership of Stephen Wright (1 for 34 off 16 overs) and skipper Dave Rimmer (4 for 34 off 15) began to turn the screw. The pair exerted pressure which led to the suicidal run outs of Brett Scothern and Craig Langton and it was left to Alan Villiers and Craig Mellors to bat out the final six overs to avoid outright defeat.

Pakistani international Naved Latif wasted no time in introducing himself to the league, he and Taufseer Jaffari grabbed four wickets apiece for Plumtree (170 for 9) as they gained a 17 point winning draw at Balderton (153 for 9) who had Ishan Ratnayake taking 6 for 26. Ellerslie’s Samrat sharma has begun the season like the proverbial train with scores of 76,103 and now 124* at home to struggling Eastwood. The Indian star shared an opening wicket stand of 180 with ex Notts Amateur Nadeem Akhtar who made his first score since his move from Lady Bay Boots in Division D. Eastwood’s chase of 265 ended 71 runs short thanks to four wickets from Jurgen Charlesworth and three from skipper Eddie Pidduck.

There was a strong Notts CCC connection in Calverton’s three wicket success at home to Newstead Village (176) as Kevin Evans (50 and 3 for 29) and David Fraser Darling (3 for 16) made the game winning contributions. Alec McKinlay’s return to cricket at Attenborugh (266 for 7) has been a successful one so far striking 114 in his sides winning draw at Radcliffe on Trent. Despite fifties from Richard Brooks, Ian Dodd and Simon Towers, the home side finished some way short on 195.

Keyworth are successfully dislodging themselves of the one man team syndrome that was banded around in certain quarters last year. Last week Grant Parker starred with an unbeaten 90 and on Saturday it was the turn of Geoff Tindsley (46*) and Andy Hiller (5 for 12) to perform as Loughborough Carillon crashed to 39 all out chasing 174 for victory in Division B. The win for Keyworth takes them into second place. Kirkby Portland must have been confident of tasting success for the first time after dismissing Gedling and Sherwood for 101, however a six wicket haul from the consistent Paul McMillan ensured the visitors slumped to 80 all out and their  third straight defeat.

West Bridgfordians (193 for 7) put on a gritty display in their abandoned fixture at Loughborough the previous week and they followed it up with a crushing 121 success at home to Kimberley II, brothers Henry and Oliver Straw the heroes with 54 and 5 for 12 respectively.

In C, Carrington Caribs have strengthened their squad pre season and are up amongst the early pace setters after a close fought two wicket success at Hickling (136). Long Whatton meanwhile are shrugging off the unavailability of their star player Jamie Allen by moving to the summit after a seven wicket hammering of previously unbeaten Plumtree II (89), Mark Lester (5 for 16) the man of the match. Relief too for Hucknall (177 for 2) who moved off the bottom of the table with an 18 point winning draw over fellow strugglers Attenborough II (100 for 9), teenager Ben Lake top scoring with an unbeaten 82.

Newark won back to back games for the first time in three years in D and in doing so move into mid table after defeating Radcliffe on Trent who managed only 59 in reply to the winners 110. Promoted clubs Calverton II and Willoughby continue to struggle though, falling to defeats to Wilsons and Fiskerton respectively. Thrumpton looked impressive in defeating previous table toppers Thurgarton (128 for 9) by eight wivkets, Frank Forman and Inan Malik each grabbing three wickets each.

Wollaton II and Risley II are the early pace setters in E. Wollaton made light work of West Bridgford Legion (91) losing just the three wickets in the chase whilst Risley (147 for 6) were victorious in the local derby at Long Eaton II (64), Dean Cooper taking 3 for 28 against his former club. Its now 14 wickets in 3 games for 15 year old Adam Scott of Hucknall II who defeated bottom club Collingham II (155 for 8) by 28 runs despite 62 from veteran Andy Cousins. Farndon followed up their narrow eight run victory at home to Hucknall II last week with another nail biter, this time a four run victory against Southwell II (130).

Caythorpe III (226 for 6) lead the way in F, another fifty for Jon Kneale and four wickets from 13 year old Mark Staszkiewicz the chief contributors in their 50 run success at home to winless Ravenshead. Caythorpe III go clear as Gedling Colliery II tasted defeat for the first time, losing by the slender margin of three runs in a thrilling game at Wymeswold (139 f0r 9). Elsewhere Eastwood II gained quick revenge in their return fixture at Bottesford II whilst Mansoor Khan’s 54 and 4 for 32 helped Notts Unity II (160 for 3) achieve a comfortable seven wicket success at home to Elks.

Hoveringham and Lowdham are jostling for pole position in G, Hoveringham disposing of Whatton and Aslockton (137 for 8) by seven wickets thanks to 59 from ex Caythorpe man Ben Lee and 5 for 42 from Scott Shaw whilst Lowdham (149) squeezed through against Beeston Sycamore by the margin of ten runs. A superb reduced over game at Bramcote II (150 for 8) saw visitors Gotham II edge past the total with two balls remaining , Joe Corbett striking 55 for the winners.

Some early finishes in H as East Leake’s Keith Oxspring smacked 83 out of the 109 target set by  Rolls Royce Leisure II who remain bottom. Gedling and Sherwood II required only 14 overs to pass East Bridgford’s 86 and Kirkby Portland II 15 overs to chase down Beeston Sycamore II’s 81. Oxton, newly promoted, lead the way though after crushing Elks II (50) by 139 runs, Mark Zajac (4 for 11) being the chief destroyer. Elsewhere, Australian Ben Webb of Loughborough II had the leagues highest score, carrying his bat for 125 in his sides hammering of Cotgrave.

The clash of two unbeaten sides in J lived up to its hype as Carrington Caribs II had only one wicket in tact chasing a measly 79 for victory at home to Lambley. Newstead Village head the division in these early stages following a 25 run success at home to winless Bestwood Village (155 for 7) who had New Zealander Anthony Timpson, who has represented Welbeck in the Premier League, scoring 54 in vain for the losers. Something had to give at the bottom and it was Stapleford who climb following a nine wicket thrashing of poor Caunton (61), Gary Dawson grabbing five wickets. Ian Wilson of Edingley had the distinction of a hat trick, ending with five wickets in total as his team overcame Sutton Bonington (82) by 4 wickets.

The top twe met in K and, as with J the margin of success was one wicket as Burton Joyce just managed to chase down the 128 target set by Basford Hall OB, Chris Moore top scoring for the winners with 72. Bingham recorded their first win in style as Lenton Abbey collapsed to 45 all out in their pursuit of 175, James Wilson enjoying a five wicket haul.

Only two games were possible In Division L, but Kimberley III (185 for 6) overcame their sternest challenge to date in the shape of Clifton Village III (181), the other fixture saw a thrilling tie between Stanton by Dale II and Flintham  who couldn’t be separated on 148, Paul Cowan taking 5 wickets for Stanton, including a hat trick.

Keyworth II, after a disastrous start in M have won their next two games, the latest being a three wicket victory at Fiskerton II (103), Dave Hallam’s 6 for 27 proving to be the telling contribution. Thrumpton II and Belton are two sides not used to much success, however they occupy the top two places after wins over Wilsons II and Long Whatton II respectively.

The league’s outstanding bowling performance came in N where Martin Ingham of Newstead Village III took 8 for 21 in his sides win over struggling Radliffe on Trent III. Elsewhere, poor Elks III (69) still have a negative average following a seven wicket defeat over previously winless Hucknall III.

Two pulsating games in Division P, both with one run winning margins! Kirkby Portland (108 for 9) just held off the challenge of Ellerslie III whilst Kimberley IV couldn’t quite overcome the 178 target set by Chilwell II, despite an impressive all round performance form 16 year old Dominic Wheatley (46 and 3 for 45). If that wasn’t enough, Broad Street (110 for 9) edged out Ruddington II by one wicket, Mike Cupit taking 5 for 35 to add to his six wicket haul on the opening day.

In Division R, five teams still hold 100% per cent records. The most impressive results came from Wollaton (250 for 2) who had Mike Sheridan striking an unbeaten 118 in their 157 run defeat of Radcliffe IV and from Wymeswold who had Aimee Sims (73 and 3 for 32) and Louisa Hayes (35 and 3 for 30) starring in the win at Poplars. Six wickets apiece for East Leake II’s James Whitchurch and Haljeet Singh of Young Lions, both players ending on the winning side.

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