Report 9.7.11
Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report Saturday 9 July 2011
By Phil Johnson
Plumtree are firmly in the box seat for the Premier League after a pulsating encounter at home to closest rivals Rolls Royce Leisure in Belle and Jerome Division A.
Rolls took first knock and there was a first fifty since his move for Taimor Khan whilst opener Abdul Sultan Khan (31) chipped in as did Rahim Karim (33). Jason Gorman enjoyed some rare time at the crease at nine and his late unbeaten 33 got the visitors up to 230. For Plumtree there were three wickets apiece for Bobby Gamble and Nigel Finney.
Plumtree got off to a decent start through Steve James (38) and Ben Milnes (23) but from 105 for 2 they stuttered somewhat thanks to Tayyib Khan (3 for 64) and suffered a major blow when Liaqat Ali bowled Matt Wood who had made a polished 64. It was now 172 for 6 and time was running out. Enter teenagers Matt Milnes (31*) and Gamble (22*) who timed the chase to perfection with victory coming in the penultimate over. Plumtree are now 26 points clear at the summit.
Notts Unity take Rolls’ place in second following a last over win at home to Hucknall who have now lost three on the bounce.
Robin Maxwell promoted himself to open and top scored with 52 and there was also contributions in the top order from Scott Harris (36) and Richard Greatorex (30). Hucknall would have been looking for 200 plus at this stage but ultimately collapsed from 163 for 4 to 177 all out with the change bowlers of Usman Aziz (4 for 43) and Alex McDonald (3 for 8) causing the damage.
Unity started well in reply but Ravinderpal Singh (31) again got himself out when well set. This dismissal sparked a capitulation with the home side falling to 108 for 7 against the bowling of Adam Scott (3 for 52) and the pace duo of Maxwell and Josh Buckley who grabbed a couple of wickets each.
The odds were now stacked against Unity but Aziz (29*) and Mc Donald (32) both showed great maturity and when Mc Donald was dismissed, Connor Scott (10*) came in to complete the job. Aziz hit the boundary required with four balls remaining to cap a man of the match performance.
Radcliffe’s Rob Sutton is in the form of his life at present as he racked up a third century of the season to go with scores of 96 and 88. The visitors ended on 238 with keeper Dan Mason adding 48 and Simon Hopson a quick fire cameo of 24 at the death. James Johnstone (3 for 37) was the pick of a mediocre Southwell attack.
The home side, who had won three out of the last four, were never at the races and slumped to a miserable 123 all out with only skipper Tim Green (22) and Dave Rimmer (21) staying around for any length of time. Radcliffe’ s Frankie Brown (3 for 27) has been badly missed in recent weeks and he received support from 13 year old Connor Marshall (2 for 8) and Chris Holden (2 for 27).
With Balderton’s home game with Ellerslie falling victim to the weather it was a massive opportunity for either Hyson Green or Attenborough to climb out of the relegation places.
Hyson Green (219) had Sri Lankan Suranga Morathota (32) getting the team off to a decent start and this was followed up with thirties for Ikram Ul Haq, Shahid Khan and Zak Hussain.
Attenborough (193 for 8) have only passed 200 on one occasion this season and yet again they fell short despite 45 from Alan Moss and 30 from Craig Heiden. The visitors tried in vain to reach the target but Moshin Qayyum’s spell of 4 for 45 off 16 overs was the telling factor.
Clifton Village II march on in Cucamara Division B, but not before being given a scare by third place Gedling Colliery.
Colliery’s batting let them down in posting just 138 with 61 of these coming from opener Graham Burton and 22 from number 10 Andy McCarroll. Matt Roberts (4 for 23) was the pick of the bowlers for Clifton with Richard Mc Dermott (3 for 19) and Paul MacMillan (2 for 31) also impressing.
Clifton’s prolific top order was torn apart for once with the visitors in disarray on 26 for 4. However, there is always someone that usually steps up to the plate in this team and this week it was the turn of David McDermott (58*) and Anthony Hart (26) to see the leaders through to their eighth victory of a highly successful season to date.
West Bridgfordians extend the gap to Gedling in second after another convincing display, and full credit to skipper Oliver Straw who has marshalled his troops brilliantly as they chase down successive promotions.
Visitors Gedling and Sherwood put up a feeble display, making just 92 with Tom Morley accounting for 64 of these. Straw for once, took a back seat in the bowling honours with Aidan Bell (4 for 9) and George Orange (3 for 37) taking the plaudits.
It was then left to the in form duo of Henry Straw (44) and Nick De Villiers (35*) to knock off the runs in just 19 overs. Gedling need Matt Oliver to return to form pretty quickly to arrest their alarming slump into the relegation spots.
There was a thriller on the South Notts border with Plumtree II scrambling a tie on the last ball with struggling Gotham.
Gotham actually recovered from a calamitous 39 for 6 to post 200 with bowlers Brad Moore (60) and Rob Goddard (74) in the runs. Early on, Plumtree’s Jack Manton (4 for 33) had caused the mayhem.
Plumtree’s reply gained momentum after a sticky start but the dismissals of Justin Stockdale (48) and Rob Tapp (48) kept the game on a knifes edge. Chris Mortimer (36) looked to be winning it for the visitors but Moore (3 for 27) had other ideas. The last pair came together at 191 and the visitors managed a single off the last ball to level the scores to conclude a fabulous game of cricket.
Hope springs eternal for Eastwood who recorded a much needed win at home to Collingham (208).
The losers had lots of batsmen making starts but no one went on to make the telling contribution with Jonathan Todd (38) top scoring. Eastwood’s reply followed a similar pattern and the visitors were favourites with Eastwood lumbering on 106 for 5. However, Gordon Pearson (43) came to the rescue and together with Steven Leese (41*), won the game with two overs remaining.
Calverton recovered from their disappointing display last week to record a 17 point winning draw at home to Long Eaton who are themselves consistently inconsistent.
Calverton totalled 230 with left hander Scott Andrew firing 85 and Callum Jayes 57. Long Eaton fell short on 185 and batted out with Andy Edge (87) adding to his couple of wickets earlier in the day. There was also a decent knock from improving keeper batsman Jack Harrison (45).
Kimberley II had no game in Rothera Dawson Division C so Kirkby Portland continued to close the gap with a six wicket win at Attenborough II (144).
It was another below par display with the bat from the losers who only had Lui Holliday (28) and Ian Baddeley (25) making starts as Brett Jones (4 for 51), Jason Caunt (3 for 34) and Grant Newcombe (3 for 24) controlled the innings. Kirkby were in some discomfort at 49 for 4 in the run chase but Joe Caunt (58*) for once played the back up role with Andrew Dallison (57*) impressing in his run a ball effort.
Wollaton II keep up the chase in third though after a comfortable win at home to mid table Radcliffe II (157). The losers failed to build on several individual starts and were pegged back in the end by some economical bowling.
After tea, veteran Jon Gulson (48*) dropped anchor and the Shrestha brothers, together with John Christiansen (32) secured a seven wicket success.
It would be a good toss to win on a wet one at Regatta Way, Tony Fawcett of Thurgarton won it and Wilsons seemed almost resigned to defeat. The home side could only manage 92 with Aaron Singh (4 for 19) and Will Higson (3 for 3) in good form. There was a faint hope for Wilsons after the interval with the dismissals of Powell and Dutton for ducks, however Colin Cliff (54*) and James Mitchell (25*) soon overcame the total to claim 20 priceless points.
Nerves were jangling at Hoveringham where struggling Newstead Village were chasing 137 to win. The home side remained favourites until number 7 Steve Daykin came to the crease. The loyal servant cracked a fifty as wickets continued to fall around him but Newstead got over the finish line with one wicket intact. Defeat was a little harsh on Steve Cambell (4 for 35) and Brett Lear (3 for 29) who both bowled beautifully in their fourteen over spells.
In Milward Printing Division D the top two overcame setbacks to record victories.
Table toppers Thrumpton were 101 for 8 at one stage before a ninth wicket partnership between Jordan Whithead (34*) and Adam Pick (24) got the score up to a respectable 164. Bottesford’s top order were then simply blown away by the twin merchants of Whitehead and Joe Richardson (4 for 14). Then it was the turn of wily old campaigner Frank Forman (4 for 11) to spin his team to a 67 run success.
Risley were chasing a combative 137 in 32 overs set by bottom club Willoughby and were cruising until the dismissal of Matt Shaw (30). Thirty four runs were required off the final four overs and Willoughby looked favourites until Paul Addison (21*) and Alex Fitchett (20*) combined powerful stroke play with excellent running to get home with five balls remaining.
There is no change at the top in Star Foundation division E with wins for Ellerslie II and Hucknall II. Ellerslie’s was resounding with a club record partnership of 236 the catalyst behind their 242 run annihilation of Fiskerton (68). The men responsible were Eddie Pidduck and Daniel Hammond (56). Pidduck contributed a days best 143 off 112 balls including 17 fours and 5 sixes.
At the other end of the scale, Newark & RM II were in trouble at 30 for 6 chasing 93 at home to fellow strugglers Caythorpe III. Then Anthony Hall came to the crease and fired 50 of the 66 required to give new skipper Sam Robinson (4 for 9) a second straight win.
There a mild scare for leaders Eastwood II (145) in F where bottom club Epperstone turned in a good bowling display, and in particular Will Burgess (6 for 52). Unfortunately, Epperstone are counting the cost of losing too many people close season and their batting has been woeful all season. Today was no exception with Hitesh Godhania grabbing 4 wickets and the evergreen Dave Summers 3 in a 60 run victory.
In GB Bookkeeping division G there was a regulation win for top club Belvoir II but the big game was at the bottom between Lowdham (260) and Oxton. The latter is another club who have suffered an out flux of players and their season hit a new low on Saturday, falling to an 180 run reversal thanks to Andy Seager (80), Ian Staples (72) and three wickets each for Waqas Nazir and Dan Cosgrove.
It was business as usual in H for Flintham with a crushing nine wicket win at Bottesford II (110). For the winners there was 45* for Matt Lyas to go with scores of 100, 78 and 71 in the last month. Rolls Royce II keep up the pressure though by thrashing lowly Lenton Abbey (93) by nine wickets with Ian Dowell (6 for 30) the man of the match.
There are five teams currently vying for promotion in J with Lambley at the top of the pile. Saturday saw Basford Hall OB (90) put to the sword again with four wickets for Keith Miller and three for Stuart Morley. After tea, Simon Widdison was dismissed cheaply but that was Basford’s only success as Morley (30*) and Elliott Burnett (46*) closed out the game.
It is all to play for in K with Woodborough clinging on to top spot. The leaders slipped up at the weekend though at Newstead Village II (179), falling 46 runs shy in the chase with Rachel Scholes (4 for 43) producing a game winning performance.
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet in King Stone products Division L but she is certainly warming up with a tenth win for the seemingly invincible Young Lions (228) at Radcliffe III (128). For the winners, Ravi Digwa (60 & 6 for 11) enjoyed a productive day at the office
Even Digwa was eclipsed though by Stuart Hubbard of Risley II who fired his fourth century in five games to guide his side to a seven wicket win at Willoughby II (221).
The top of the table clash in M was a low scoring affair with Chilwell II recovering from the depths of 17 for 6 to post 92. Ellerslie III had some scares of their own before nudging home with seven wickets down. For Ellerslie there were good performances from Carl Stahlberger (39), Tom Shields (5 for 33) and Phil Lalfbery (3 for 20).
It is beginning to look doubtful whether anyone will catch Hoveringham in N. The leaders made it eleven out of eleven and are a colossal 71 points clear at the top. Their latest success came at Flintham (166) with Tim Etherington (44*) and Dave Lee (33* & 4 for 36) sharing the honours.
Kimberley IV stay in contention for the runners up spot though after successfully defending 119. Lowdham II would have felt confident of surpassing the target but five wickets for Paul Newton swung the game Kimberley’s way.
Finally, In Oval Property Finance Division P, Eastwood III (143) lost their proud unbeaten record at Gedling Colliery IV (194) thanks to five wickets for Jack Robinson. Kinoulton II then increased the pressure in second by bowling out West Bridgford Legion II (86) with Mohammed Alsaf (4 for 24) and Tom Holmes (3 for 17) in the wickets.
