Cutthorpe almost there
by Paul Barker, 26th August 2002

It is always advantageous to have a match in hand on your rivals especially when you go into this match with a 28 point advantage over your nearest challengers.

It is even more advantageous if you win that match as Cutthorpe did on Bank Holiday Monday and now barring a miracle are virtually home and dry with 40 points to spare on second placed Kiveton Park and only three matches and 60 points available.

This means that Kiveton have to win all three matches whilst Cutthorpe have to lose them all, which is something that quite frankly isn't going to happen. Cutthorpe latest demolition job was by eight wickets against a massively outgunned Mansfield Hosiery Mills who were never in with a chance.

Batting first Hosiery Mills got away to an appalling start losing two quick wickets but Dave Loveridge steadied the ship and batted quite superbly against some excellent bowling. It was only the arrival of Hosiery Mills skipper Mark Langford that boosted the scoring rate and he made a superb unbeaten 57, but one must pay most credit to Loveridge who battled hard for a magnificent 74 runs. Asadullah Butt took 3 for 50 and Andrew Pierrepont who was probably unlucky to come up against Langford when the chase was on claimed 3 for 90.

In reply it was no contest as Cutthorpe simply blasted the Hosiery Mills bowling out of sight with Chris Marples being particularly severe in making a brilliant 67. Great support came from Andy Thompson and Asadullah Butt who were both unbeaten on 55 as Cutthorpe coasted to an eight wicket win over a badly beaten side.

The same two teams meet in the cup final on September 8th and unless there is a massive improvement from Hosiery Mills the same result looks a certainty. However strange things happen in this great game called cricket and we will have to wait and see.

Kiveton Park slumped to their third consecutive defeat after once again registering a massive score against Arnold. Batting first Kiveton reached 262 for 5 with the superb Australian Steve Frost making 108 and the excellent Adam Burgess 88. In the face of this severe onslaught Arnold's Rick Peacock bowled quite brilliantly to take 4 for 81 in a great spell.

It was not to be however as Arnold's West Indian superstar Nolan McKenzie blasted a magnificent 124 and with Julian Thornhill (66) providing superb support Arnold reached 266 for 5 to win by five wickets with only Steve Frost (3 for 57) causing them any trouble.

Glapwell are now in serious relegation peril after losing to Farnsfield by a very easy eight wickets. Only Nick Bircumshaw (35) batted with any conviction as Glapwell reached 158 for 7 and the moment James Bennett (31) and the brilliant Andy Edwards (105 n.o. from just 90 balls) got to work, the result was nothing more than a formality.

Thoresby Colliery did their survival hopes a power of good by beating fellow strugglers Killamarsh by 78 runs. Batting first Thoresby made a far from impressive 152 for 6 with Nigel Burkitt top scoring on 33.

As has happened on many occasions though this season after putting themselves in a winning position Killamarsh simply failed to go through with the effort and Steve Willis (6 for 40) and skipper Martin Cheshire (3 for 16) had them all back inside for a dismal and disappointing 74 runs.

After Saturday's morale boosting win over high flyers Papplewick & Linby, one would have expected more from Killamarsh but it just goes to show how unpredictable the game can be.

After Saturday's first defeat of the season, North Wheatley bounced back in fine style to trounce nearest rivals Bolsover by six wickets and take the Division 2 championship with three matches still to play. Nobody can deny this wonderful side their achievement and they have come back from relegation last campaign admirably.

Bolsover were bowled out for a rather meagre 143 with only Chris Cowley (41) and Neil Collings (35) providing any stability as Kiwi Michael Davidson (5 for 56) and Robin Hackney (4 for 72) literally sliced through them.

A few setbacks then took place but the result was never in much doubt as Wayne Harrison (38) put the Bolsover attack to the sword and North Wheatley celebrated success on 144 for 4 and quite rightly too.

Anston kept alive their slim hopes of second place with a comfortable eight wicket success over bottom club Milton. Two players skipper John Lyne and Pakistani import Akhilesh Rana played prominent roles in the victory with Lyne taking 4 for 39 and Rana 4 for 21 as Milton were dismissed for just 152.

This target proved quite simple to Anston and once again it was Lyne (36 n.o.) and Rana a magnificent 96 n.o. who took them to a comprehensive victory.

A low scoring thriller took place at Ashover with the home side claiming a winning draw from a seemingly impossible position. Ashover were bowled out for just 118 with only Tim Duxbury (31) propping up the innings with some much needed resistance. Dave Law (5 for 52) was the pick of the Marshalls attack.

In reply Marshalls appeared to be coasting with skipper Chris Hearn (37) putting victory in sight. AQ real turn around then took place with Ian King (5 for 19) simply slicing through some abject batting and Marshalls were content to hold out on 114 for 9, almost snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!