South Notts 2003 - the highlights
by Dennis Wright, 31st December 2003

League records for the season 2003 fell on a weekly basis. I have used copies of press cuttings to highlight these and some of the season's interesting moments and clashes:-

10 May - Lively conditions at Eastwood Town II were just the tonic for medium pace bowler Simon Silverwood of Bottesford II who set a new league record of 9/10 as Eastwood were skittled out for just 28. His wicket tally was helped by 16 yr old son Nick who took 3 sharp catches at square-leg.

17 May - 59 matches were either cancelled due to waterlogged pitches or rained off part way through.

24 May -Top team Stapleford were bowled out for 83 at home to 2nd place Rainworth Welfare. Scores were tied going into the last over & with 3 wkts in hand Rainworth were confident of victory. Mark Greatorex (4/25) then bowled a magnificent last over backed up by his fielders to dismiss the last 3 batsmen for no runs. Nottingham Victoria could only manage 58 runs but Flintham were unable to reach that total as the last 3 batsmen were run out trying to get the tying single.

31 May - Darren Wright (below, right) scored a league record 200* against Awsworth for Lady Bay Boots, he hit 30 fours & 3 sixes. Not to be outdone, Lady Bay Boots II captain Karrar Khan (left) took a staggering 8/37 at home to Gotham II.

7 June - East Bridgford bowled Bestwood Village out for 159 but still lost by 144 runs as they were humiliated to 15 all out.

14 June - Lenton Abbey openers James Trafford (85) & John Greatorex (84) put on a club record 174 opening stand to beat Stanton (213/5). Tim Butler hit 106 for a first ever century in the league for Stanton .

28 June - The award for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory goes to Eastwood Town (142/9). Radcliffe-on-Trent had set a relatively modest 145/9, Eastwood began the pursuit at pace, scoring 58 from the first 9 overs, however with 9 overs to go they still needed 16 runs but had 5 wkts in hand. They finished 3 short with a losing draw.

5 July - Mick Bowen of Stapleford returned the 1 st XI best bowling figures of the season so far; he reduced Oxton to 4/5 at one stage. A late recovery saw them move to 88 with Bowen 8/20 including a hat- trick.

12 July - A new league record TWICE, & a staggering 20 games with 200+ scores, probably the best weekend in the league's history. Majid Saeed plundered 206* runs at home to 2nd place Newstead Abbey Village . It is Majid's 6th Century, and his fourth in consecutive weeks, a record. Saeed & Nadeem Akhtar (68*) put on a club record 231* for the 2nd wicket in their 296/1.

Arslan Shah for Carrington Cavaliers destroyed Bingham. Carrington had scored 175 & when Bingham came out to bat they were blown away by Shah's excellent 6 over spell of 7/7. All his wkts were bowled & 6 of the Bingham players returned with ducks. Attenborough III, defeated at home by Stoke Bardolph, were last defeated in August 2001, they had notched up a league record 29 games unbeaten. They have gained promotion in all of their four seasons & as they are top of 2D, who would bet against another?

19 July - Neil Henshaw took 9/17 in the clash between Risley II & Rolls Royce Leisure II, Dan Sutton took 8/64 for Radcliffe-on-Trent II in their match with Kimberley Institute II . 15 year old Thomas Hill took 7/27 as Farndon II entertained Caythorpe IV.

26 July - Belvoir II made their first entry into the record books in a big way with Simon Clark taking NINE of Balderton II's wkts for a miserly FIVE runs, his 10 overs included seven maidens.

2 August - In a season that has seen all the major records tumble, two more fell by the wayside as Majid Saeed became the 1st player to score two double centuries & a record 7th century of the season.

16 August - Stanton-by-Dale II (366/3) scored the 2nd highest score in the league with their win over Rolls Royce Leisure II (277/9), the combined score of 643 is a record total.

23 August - Calverton's long-anticipated claim to the Gunn & Moore championship came to fruition with a victory away at Gotham Village with David Fraser-Darling hitting 69 to clinch the all important victory.

30 August - Lambley II's 17 year old Ian Staples had a day to remember with a personal best 142 & 5/46 beating new 2E champions Sawley & Long Eaton Park III to avoid the drop.

POPKESS CUP - Winners Gedling Colliery

Venue: Calverton CC - Gedling Colliery (177/6) Vs. Notts Amateurs (176/7)

Another nail biting finish saw favourites Gedling, competing in their 4 th final in 5 years, hold on for victory over the 1B champions. Pre-match speculation was dominated by how the teams would perform without their influential overseas players, but a close encounter showed that both teams have talented players. Gedling's Jeff Burton was M.o.M for an all-round performance. Notts Amateurs leave the SNCL without a major trophy for their new cabinet.

RALEIGH CUP - Winners West Indian Caribs

Venue: Kinoulton CC - West Indian Caribs (318/ao) Vs. Carrington Cavaliers (258/ao)

Last year's beaten finalists dominated the encounter when they racked up 280/3 by the 31 st over. Carrington fought back to restrict the Caribs to only a further 38 runs for 7 wickets. Man of the match Brian Baptiste scored 85 but was 2nd top scorer on the day as Carrington conceded 88 extras; a record.

HOME BREWERY CUP - Winners Kimberley Institute II

Venue: Plumtree CC - Kimberley Institute II (237/9) Vs. Lady Bay Boots II (236/8)

In what can only be described as a tense finish Kimberley hung on to win a trophy that had seemed theirs from the start, when man of the match Robin Maxwell hit 96. In his retirement game, Tony Rogers needed a six off the last ball but had to settle for a four.