Cutthorpe move clear at the top
by Paul Barker, 15th June 2002

The battle of the top two teams Cutthorpe and Papplewick & Linby turned out to be rather anti-climatical as Cutthorpe sent shock waves through the whole of the league with a resounding seven wicket win over their nearest challengers.

Batting first Papplewick were hustled out on a drying strip for just 132 with only Matthew Dear (41) and Neil Sparham (24) offering any resistance at all. The Cutthorpe attack was as deadly as it was miserly and Andy Knowles (4 for 41) and Asadullah Butt (3 for 44) simply slid through the batting with the precision of a recently sharpened bacon slicer.

This total posed little or no threat to Cutthorpe and Andy Thompson with an unbeaten 55 and the brilliant Asadullah Butt (31) took them to a very easy win. This victory puts Cutthorpe 28 points clear at the top and even at this stage of the season it begins to look as though it will take an exceptional side to stop their march on the title.

Third placed Cuckney put together a convincing performance to completely overwhelm Thoresby Colliery who have enjoyed a good run of late. Batting first Cuckney were indebted to Mark Sangar who compiled a brilliant 100 n.o. and Australian Bryn Gaunt (59) out of a total of 219 for 4 when the overs ran out. Steve Willis and Mark Higton bagged a brace of wickets each as Thoresby struggled to stem the flow of runs.

This target was never threatened and Thoresby were bowled out for just 95 with Andy Stephenson putting in a brilliant stint of medium paced bowling to register the fantastic figures of 7 for 31. Cuckney have now closed right up on Papplewick and are another side that certainly needs to be taken seriously.

Shock of the day came at Killamarsh where the home side who were bottom of the league thrashed the only side without a blemish on their record Farnsfield by 86 runs. Rob. Carlisle (50), David Allen (32) and Steve Ludlam (34) helped Killamarsh to reach a useful looking 194 for 9 which represented a much better batting performance than they had been used to all season. Tim Haines (3 for 63) and John Musgrove (5 for 56) were the best of the Farnsfield attack which toiled manfully to stem the tide.

In reply Farnsfield were blasted out for just 108 with only youngster Mark Hallam (20) showing any resistance. Steve Ludlam (3 for 19) was the pick of the Killamarsh attack and Dave Barton and Australian Cameron Belshaw bagged a couple of wickets each as the home side celebrated their first victory after six defeats.

Kiveton Park got back on track after some recent disappointing results. Batting first at Arnold Kiveton registered 179 for 8 with Australian Steve Frost (51) and Richard Grainger (57) leading the charge. Andrew Rann (5 for 43) being the best of the Arnold bowlers.

Arnold's batting is giving grave cause for concern and this trend continued as they narrowly avoided outright defeat at 158 for 9 with only Andy Hobbs (31) and Nolan McKenzie (29) making any impression. Andy Norbury (3 for 47) and Steve Frost (3 for 10) were the two bowlers who did the damage as Kiveton returned to their early season form.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills proved far too strong for Glapwell who held out doggedly for a losing draw. Batting first Hosiery Mills blasted 253 for 6 with Sam Butler leading the way early with four massive sixes in his 33 and this was further supplemented by Clive Graham (72), Jonathan Best (77) and skipper Mark Langford (31) Matthew Hall and Dean Graney both took a couple of wickets in the fierce onslaught which took place.

With two wickets falling early Glapwell where in position to chase this massive total and sturdy knocks from Travis Binnion (39) and Nick Bircumshaw (33) saw them hold on for a draw in the face of some fine bowling from New Zealander Bradley Scott (3 for 29) and slow bowler Dave Loveridge (4 for 36) at 131 for 8 when the overs ran out.