Cutthorpe tighten grip
by Paul Barker, 24th August 2002

With Kiveton Park and Papplewick & Linby going down to surprise defeats at the hands of Cuckney and Killamarsh respectively, Cutthorpe registered a winning draw against Glapwell which puts them 28 points clear at the head of the table with only four matches remaining.

Batting first Cutthorpe declared at 200 for 4 with Nigel Kingham (48) and Mark Cluer (32) providing excellent support to Andy Thompson who batted quite brilliantly for his 78.

Not that Cutthorpe had it all their own way as Glapwell put on a spirited display to finish on 150 for 7 with Matthew Hall (76 n.o.) still looking a major threat at the finish. The formidable bowling talent of Asadullah Butt was again well to the fore as he took 4 for 47, but Glapwell held on relatively easily for the draw.

Kiveton Park sunk to defeat against the rejuvenated Cuckney who have now won their last four matches. Cuckney began the season in fine style and were up with the leaders until a mid season slump saw them in freefall but now they have come back in good style and are now second in the table. Batting first Cuckney amassed 204 for 4 with Australian Bryn Gaunt making 40, Ian Morley (31) and Brian Smyth a quick fire unbeaten 75. Chris Storer was the pick of the Kiveton attack taking 3 for 47.

Kiveton never really looked like reaching this target and were dismissed for just 147 with only the hugely talented left hander Adam Burgess making an excellent 84 to save them from further humiliation. Matt Sangar was the pick of an accurate Cuckney attack taking 4 for 18 and this performance saw them leap a further two places in the table.

If this was a surprise the result from Papplewick was astounding as Killamarsh who were languishing next to the bottom of the table thrashed the home side by five wickets. If it hadn't been for skipper Robin Rhodes who made a dogged 38 one wonders how many Papplewick would have scored as they were dismissed for just 114.

Rodney Cook bowled superbly for Killamarsh taking 5 for 32 but Papplewick must have wondered how they managed to score 273 for 2 only a week ago and then slump to this against a side that have had their backs to the wall all season.

Killamarsh went on to take a maximum points haul which will be most welcome to them. David Allen (29 n.o.) and Julian Carlisle (27 n.o.) saw Killamarsh home whilst Jim Rhodes tried in vain to turn things around taking 3 for 23 but the target left no margin for error at all and Papplewick simply didn't score enough runs!

Thoresby Colliery are now in serious trouble and have sunk to the one from bottom spot in the table after Arnold took them apart by seven wickets. Not that it always looked that way as skipper Martin Cheshire (47) helped them to 80 for 1 in the first 20 overs before some completely incompetent batting allied to some fine bowling saw them collapse to just 105 all out.

Rick Peacock took 5 for 24 including taking the hat-trick and Ian Flood gave good support with 4 for 21. The target proved no obstacle for Arnold with Julian Thornhill batting quite superbly to make an unbeaten 41 and Don Leiper added excellent support with 24 n.o. as Arnold took maximum points by reaching 106 for 3.

Farnsfield got the better of a drawn match with Worksop on a low and slow wicket at Central Avenue. Farnsfield could only manage 128 for 9 and it was only teenager Mark Hallam (26) who saved them from an even worse fate. Veterans Steve Blagg (3 for 24) and Steve Ambrose (3 for 49) both bowled well for Worksop.

Worksop however could not match this pretty ordinary total concluding on 91 for 9 with only Tim Ward (24) saving them from a worse mauling. Tim Haines as usual provided the donkey work taking 2 for 31 after a superb unchanged spell whilst Mark Hallam supplemented his brilliant work with the bat by taking 4 for 25 and skipper Phil Creswell bagged 3 for 28.

This day of shocks continued in Division 2 with leaders North Wheatley slumping to their first defeat of the season at Clay Cross by six wickets. Batting first North Wheatley's big guns for once didn't fire and they were dismissed for just 165 with only Michael Davidson (33) and Peter Swan (29) making much impact. Nigel Hibbert (5 for 67) and Stuart Brown (5 for 56) did the damage and gave Clay Cross a chance to do something that nobody else had managed this season.

This chance was taken as Ian Sims who is potentially the best batsman in the division decided it was his day with a brilliant unbeaten 82 and Steve Cracknell made a quick-fire 30 as Clay Cross totaled 169 for 4. The only consolation for North Wheatley is that they are still 47 points clear at the top and this set back shouldn't bother them too much.

Bolsover moved up to second spot as the challengers all got an attack of the jitters. Once again Bolsover had a lot to thank Pakistani import Tariq Rashid for as he took 5 for 39 out of a Whitwell total of 168 for 8 of which Carl Curran top scored with 67.

Bolsover knocked off the required runs but lost seven wickets in the process. Tariq Rashid was unquestionably the star of the show scoring 53 whilst good support came from Chris Cowley who made a good 56.

Blyth put on an horrendous show and dropped down to third place after an humiliating four wicket defeat against Anston. Blyth were bowled out for just 77 with Ian Barley taking 5 for 21 and Akhilesh Rana (3 for 10) in a dismal display of batting.

Anston didn't have it all their own way however losing six wickets before claiming victory. Andy Barthorpe with 5 for 36 did his best to pull the game around for Blyth but the target proved too little and may have put paid to Blyth's chances of regaining their top sphere status.

Marshalls who have shown much improved form of late slumped back to the indifferent stuff they had shown for much of the season when they went down to a heavy seven wicket defeat against Eckington. Only James Deacon (26) showed any application as Simon Emson ran through some flimsy resistance taking 5 for 46 as Marshalls were dismissed for just 75.

This total proved no problem to Eckington as Richard Bostock batted quiet superbly for an unbeaten 51 as Eckington reached the winning total of 77 for 3. Mark Davies with 3 for 17 bowled well but it was a case of too little too late for the inconsistent Gainsborough side.

Any slight hopes Edwinstowe fostered of promotion must now be totally dead as they slumped to an eight wicket defeat at Everton. Robert Mimms carved through some awful batting to take 6 for 20 as Edwinstowe were dismissed for just 65. Everton knocked off this small total for the loss of just two wickets and have moved well clear of the relegation candidates with some determined displays in the second half of the season.

Another side who stood next to bottom of the table at the end of June and are now proudly occupying fifth place are Ashover. They dismissed Milton who have had a season to forget for jus 50 with Roger Bolstridge ripping through some poor batting to take 5 for 19. Good support came from Charlie Gwillim (3 for 9) and Ian King (2 for 11).

In reply Ashover sailed to victory without losing a single wicket and could finish in the top four at the end of the season, which would be a remarkable turn around after their early season failures.