Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Saturday 27 August 2011

By Phil Johnson

Unfortunately the weather played a big role on Saturday with twelve games being postponed and a further seven abandoned due to heavy showers and fading light. What this means though is that many promotion and relegation issues will now be settled on the final day.

One team to take advantage of the bowler friendly conditions were Balderton in Belle & Jerome Division A who took a huge step to safety by thrashing fellow strugglers Attenborough who are now in real danger of a second successive relegation.

The all important toss was won by the home side who welcomed back overseas Marlon Franklin after injury. However the wicket more suited the medium pace of Ian Sellars (4 for 34) and Paul Colcomb (4 for 24). There was brief resistance from Sam Clulow (17) and Luis Holliday (17) but Attenborough could only manage 93.

Balderton would have been a little apprehensive when striding out to bat, given the conditions and their capitulation against Plumtree three weeks ago. However, Josh Tranter (29) got them on their way and Dominic Wiffin (36*) finished the job off. Balderton require three points to stay up and even that’s if Attenborough beat Plumtree.

One team definitely relegated are Hyson Green who came a distant second at Southwell.

The winners made a decent start through Matty Davis (37) but the fireworks began half way through the innings when South African James Johnstone came to the crease. The all rounder cracked a brilliant 120 in just 90 balls including six sixes. Alex Rainbow (39*) provided good support and the home team ended with 245.

Hyson Green have struggled with the bat all season, even more so with the loss of Suranga Morathota. Opener Ashan Tariq made 30 but that was about it as Dave Rimmer (4 for 30) and Ted Behl (3 for 19) took the honours. Number nine Osama Alam (23) held up the inevitable for a while but the losers fell 128 runs short and slip back to B after two seasons.

The runner up spot is still up for grabs and Rolls Royce Leisure now hold pole position following victory in a low scoring encounter at Notts Unity.

The ball was definitely the winner before tea with only Mahboob Elani (29) and Wasim Karim (21) getting starts for Rolls in a total of 126. For Unity, spin again led from the front with Usman Aziz (5 for 20) and Ravinderpal Singh (3 for 25) gaining the plaudits.

Unity looked well set for victory on 85 for 2 after Singh (41) and James Marshall (23) had made early contributions. However, both were dismissed and Karim (4 for 32) and Tayyub Khan (3 for 21) bowled their side to an unlikely seven run success.

There was controversy and confusion at Hucknall after the home side gave up second place after losing to mid table Ellerslie.

It was a poor display with the bat from Hucknall who could only muster 117 and even that looked out of reach before Josh Buckley added 45 late on. For Ellerslie there was an outstanding contribution from Tariq Mahmood (7 for 35), taking his tally to 35 for the season.

To give them credit, Hucknall rallied after tea with Robin Maxwell (4 for 42) and Buckley (3 for 45) dismissing five out of the top seven for ducks as the visitors plummeted to 62 for 8. All that stood between Hucknall and victory was Jonathan Wakeling and he finally found support in young Peter Vladev (17). The pair got within seven runs before Vladev was dismissed. The score crept up to 116 before Maxwell bowled a wide which seemed to come off the batsman’s pads. The last pair scampered through for a single but in an Ian Bell like moment the batsman was ran out. Full credit to Maxwell who withdrew the appeal, leaving Ellerslie victors by one wicket.

Champions Plumtree fielded a weakened side to Radcliife and the visitors made 187 thanks to opener Frankie Brown (73) and Michael Bratt (26). Spinner Kulvern Kandola has had to be patient this season but the youngster (4 for 45) performed well on Saturday, as did Ben Thompson (4 for 62).

Radcliffe certainly held the upper hand after the interval with Plumtree struggling on 96 for 5. However, a couple of rain stoppages and the fading light meant the game was abandoned.

West Bridgfordians completed the formalities of a second successive promotion from Cucamara Division B, a tremendous achievement for Oliver Straw’s young side.

In a game reduced to 42 overs per side, the visitors made 182 at Eastwood with Nick De Villers (71) passing 500 runs for the season. Eastwood were in all sorts of trouble chasing, being 64 for 7 at one stage. Number 8 Dean Blake (44) held up the party but five wickets for Kushal Shah and two for George Orange ensured a 34 run success.

More controversy at Gotham Village where the home side locked horns with Long Eaton with the losers almost certainly relegated.

Gotham let the visitors off the hook by allowing them to recover from 65 for 5 to post 136 with skipper Alan Villiers making 51. Paul Blatherwick has been Gotham’s player of the season, as his six wickets again illustrated, whilst Luke Prettyjohn took the final two wickets.

Gotham, with the exception of opener Brad Moore (25) struggled early doors but at 62 for 4 they had recovered somewhat thanks to Rob Goddard and Blatherwick. However, a heavy shower forced the players off and despite one side wanting to play the umpires called a halt to the day. Gotham have now finished meaning Long Eaton need 12 points from their final game against Gedling Colliery to survive.

Talking of Colliery, after being stranded on 99 a few weeks ago, Rhys Hayes made no mistake this time. The fifteen year old fired a superb run a ball 123. Geoff Burton made 62, Duncan McKeown 45 and Lee Gomersall a cameo 27 as Colliery finished on an insurmountable 298.

Visitors Collingham batted well themselves and ended on 215 for 4 with David Pipes scoring 79 and Oliver Dyson being dismissed one short of a half century.

Plumtree II needed a win to ensure survival and they had the luxury of being able to send several first teamers to relegated Gedling and Sherwood.

It was another bad day at the office for the bottom club who could only manage 123 with Scott Bailey (3 for 21) the pick of the visiting attack.

Plumtree received an early setback with Steve James ran out without facing a ball but a quick fire unbeaten 54 from Alamgir Khan plus thirties from Sam Storey and Justin Stockdale meant victory was wrapped up in the twentieth over.

Third place Calverton became the first side to inflict defeat on champions Clifton Village II, and this was after posting a mediocre 153.

After the interval, Anthony Hart made 38 but for once the winning contribution was lacking and four wickets for Billy Armstrong and two apiece for Brinlsey Kirkham and Ryan Evans meant a nine run win for Calverton. Aiden Kerry was the last man out with two overs remaining.

One matter was resolved in Rothera Dowson Division C as Wollaton II became champions following an eight wicket hammering of relegated Wilsons (122 for 9).

The undoubted star of the show was leg spinner Suman Shrestha who took 7 for 18 in thirteen overs and then struck 43 after opening up. Fellow opener Will Sellwood made 30 and promotion was achieved with eight wickets and 17 overs intact.

Previously second Kirkby Portland had a day to forget at Radcliffe II after being dismissed for 109. There were no Caunts for Kirkby and only Rob Shead (36) hung around for the visitors as Todd Mills (5 for 39) and Jonathan Lamley (5 for 36) shared the honours. Brett Jones (2 for 26) and Tom Newcombe (2 for 33) gave the visitors some hope after the break but 109 is usually an impossible target to defend.

Kimberley II, whose game was cancelled, jumped ahead of Kirkby and the pair meet next Saturday in a promotion decider with Kimberley holding a ten point advantage.

Attenborough II have completed their fixtures and must now hope that Gedling Colliery II achieve less than fifteen points in their game against Newstead Village. The two met on Saturday and Attenborough were 48 for 1 in pursuit of Colliery’s 200 before rain became the ultimate winner.

Thurgarton are safe though after holding on at 145 for 8 at home to Newstead (165). Even a losing draw looked doubtful after a spell from Nick Hand (5 for 32) but Will Crowder (34*) and Niels Hart dug in to ensure they managed seven points to achieve survival.

Keyworth and Risley hold all the aces in Milward Print Division D needing five points each for promotion, meaning Thrumpton could lose out on the last day for the second season running.

Thrumpton’s game at home to Risley (196) was abandoned with the home side 34 for 1 in reply. Earlier in the day, veteran spinner Frank Forman (6 for 23) had impressed.

At the other end of the scale, Southwell II are running out of games to save themselves following a three wicket defeat at Bottesford. Chris Miller and John Richardson hit fifties before tea but an unbeaten 85 from Anthony Ablewhite enabled Bottesford to chase down 180.

Seventeen year old George Scottorn hit the headlines again with his third century of the season for Long Whatton. Although West Bridgfordians II couldn’t reach the 221 target, fifteen year old Ben Shaw batted brilliantly to record an unbeaten 98.

The title decider in Star Foundation Division E lived up the billing with a final ball finish. Hucknall II posted 154 with 55 of those coming from Jamie Braybrook. Ellerslie II lost cheap wickets in the reply but 45 from ex Notts CCC man Duncan Martindale gave them hope. However the game looked over at 109 for 9, but that was until skipper Sarmad Masud got going. The number 8 hit 52 in no time but 17 seventeen off the final over proved too stiff a task and Masud was run out off the final delivery. Hucknall now hold a 12 point lead going into the final weekend.

Wymeswold’s late run has seen them pull clear of the drop zone, meaning that Newark & RM II (63)suffer another relegation after coming a poor second at home to Underwood (160). For the winners, Craig Smithurst (61 and 6 for 20) was the undisputed man of the match.

All the issues in F have been decided but not so in GB Bookkeeping Division G where second place Burton Joyce hold a slender advantage over Notts Unity II.

Burton Joyce had an opening stand of 160 between Kris Seymour (104) and Dean Cowdell (62) to thank for a 118 run success at West Bridgfordians III (109). But Unity are up for a fight after taking just 10 overs to surpass Oxton’s 89.

It is goodbye to Lowdham though who lost in the penultimate over at East Leake (133). The visitors needed 10 off the last two overs but two wickets in six balls for Steve Oakley condemned the losers to H.

Sutton Bonington and Flintham were promoted in H without bowling a ball. Bramcote conceded to the former while the latter’s game at Ruddington was a victim of the Friday rain.

It is two from three to go down with Snibston Grange in real trouble after being bowled out for 48 at home to Bottesford II. Lenton Abbey and Gedling and Sherwood II fared little better though although Gedling seem to have an advantage of playing their last game on September 10.

Lambley were celebrating in J after being promoted at Kimberley III. The losers made 136 on Nuthall Park, but this proved inadequate with Lee Morley finding the short boundaries to his liking. Morley his 92 in just 54 balls, including 6 maximum’s as the total was overcome in a 18 overs.

Thrumpton II are also up and need 14 points for the title after seeing off Basford Hall OB (109) by 64 runs.

There is still hope for Edingley too at the bottom after they won for the second successive week with Alex Lewin hitting 83 out of the 113 required to beat Caunton.

It is two from three for promotion in K where Woodborough and Clifton Village III both won. Doomed Underwood II tasted victory for only the second time with Mark Lee (5 for 22) bowling his side to a 39 run win over Shepshed Town III (73).

Young Lions are promoted in King Stone Products Division L and Hucknall III will join them if they gain seven points in their final game at home to Radcliffe III.

Willoughby II survive after a thrilling tie at Radcliffe III. Chasing 190 to win, the home side scampered a two off the final ball. Earlier in the day, Gino Taj had made 71 for the visitors. This result meant that Caythorpe IV (204) go down despite winning at Gedling Colliery III (176).

In M Thurgarton II look favourites to join Belvoir III, but it was a close run thing with victory at Wymeswold (158) coming by the margin of 4 runs. Elsewhere, after two excellent performances, a really poor one for Radcliffe IV (70) at West Bridgfordians IV saw them relegated.

Wollaton III join their second team in promotion success after Attenborough IV cancelled in N. This means that Breaston and Kimberley IV miss out. The latter had a decent 58 run win at home to Madni (120) with the highlight being a hat trick by 16 year old Joe Allport.

There is no change in Oval Property Finance Division P with weather the winner. This means that the top two of Kinoulton II and Poplars hold all the aces.

Finally in R, Gedling and Sherwood are almost up after thrashing Bingham II (98) by nine wickets. For the winners, Dave Taylor (50) and Simon Hackworthy (40* & 4 for 15) were the stars of the show.

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