Leaders fall to Cuckney
by Paul Barker, 8th June 2003

Despite restricting opponents Cuckney to a modest 141 all out total, Arnold were left hanging on to avoid defeat at 136 for 9 as the overs ran out at King George V Playing Field on Saturday. Surprisingly in such a low scoring game there were some very telling individual performances particularly from Cuckney’s Andrew Jackman who made a splendid unbeaten 65 when wickets were falling all around him.

Arnold’s Australian import Justin Foss bowled admirably to take 4 for 39 and received excellent support from Andy Walters (3 for 19) and Andy Rann (3 for 46). With this reasonable target facing them Arnold must have had a fair degree of confidence about them when they began their reply.

However this is what makes cricket the great game that it is and Cuckney decided what Arnold could do they could do better and had it not been for a superb captain’s innings of 61 by Andy Hobbs the home side would surely have tasted outright defeat for the first time this season. Andrew Jackman completed a brilliant all round display taking 3 for 40 as Arnold clung on desperately at the close.

Top score of the day was a magnificent 150 from Retford’s Pascal Broadley who caned the Bolsover attack unmercifully right from the word go. He was partnered in a huge opening stand by skipper Steve Musgrove (61) but Bolsover must have been cursing their luck when Chris Pemberton knocked out his middle stump on the third ball of the first over only to have had the umpire’s cry of ‘no ball’ ringing in his ears at the time.

Retford went on to amass a massive 305 for 6 when the overs ran out and soon had Bolsover in terrible trouble as wickets fell at regular intervals. It was only stern back to the wall stuff by Jim Cowley, Eddie Grant and skipper Charlie Walker who prevented them from suffering defeat as the overs ran out on 116 for 9. Paul Singleton (4 for 22) and that man Broadley (3 for 25) who completed a brilliant all round performance just couldn’t break the final pairing but Retford would have been satisfied with 18 points that takes them to the top of the league.

Champions Cutthorpe must have feared the worse when all their big batting guns failed for the first time this season but a valiant 39 by John McCollum was as vital a contribution as he will ever make as his side were bowled out for just 120 runs. Farnsfield were well served by Bryan Gould (4 for 67) and Kiwi Mark Silcock (3 for 27) but any thoughts that this was a formality were soon to disappear into thin air.

A tremendous spell of bowling on a wicket that tended to keep rather low by Asadullah Butt (7 for 24) and Andy Pierrepont (3 for 20) had Farnsfield all back inside for a pathetic 44 runs. This Cutthorpe side will never lie down and any pretenders to their crown will need to finish above them to lift it. One thing is certain they will not give it up easily.

After a mini-revival, Kiveton Park came crashing back down to earth at North Wheatley. Only Australian Matthew Williams (44) out of a final total of 137 for 9, made any headway against the Wheatley attack in which Jamie Bovill captured 4 for 18 in an excellent spell of bowling.

Wheatley struggled a bit but finally reached the target with four wickets to spare at 138 for 6. The classy Richard Robinson (45) batted superbly and showed something like the form he is capable of. It must have been heartbreaking for Williams who after his fine showing with the bat took 3 for 26 with the ball but for the rest of his colleagues it was certainly a day to forget.

Killamarsh built up a huge total of 242 for 6 against a wilting Glapwell attack at Sheffield Road. Batting first Killamarsh were indebted to Rob Carlisle (37) Andrew Hagnhofer (50), Julian Carlisle (40 n.o.) and a blistering 74 by Peter Allen.

Glapwell never looked like threatening this target and despite a fine unbeaten 65 by Kiwi Andy Smith they were left hanging on at 150 for 9 at the close. Dave Barton (3 for 65), Lee Bradbury (3 for 36) and Pete Allen completing a fine all round performance with 3 for 23 did all the damage for a side which is just bubbling along nicely in mid-table.

A tremendous match at Edwinstowe saw home side Thoresby Colliery fail by just 3 runs to beat Mansfield Hosiery Mills. Batting first Hosiery Mills accumulated 233 for 6 with West Indian star Nolan McKenzie making a magnificent unbeaten 121. He was well supported by Sri Lankan Asela Jayasinghe who contributed 49 runs to the cause.

Thoresby then made a bold effort to attain victory and Australian Daniel Nash and Steve Willis (37 each) added support to skipper Martin Cheshire who made a brilliant 104. With two balls to go Thoresby were on 231 for 8 but failed to score the runs which would have won them the match and ended on that score. Nolan McKenzie (5 for 55) completed a fine all round showing and Hosiery Mills must have been thankful to get out of jail when the odds looked stacked against them.

With leaders Marshalls not playing in Division 2, Edwinstowe and Worksop both moved above them in their chase for the title. Edwinstowe moved to the top with a 77 run demolition of Everton at the Metcalf Ground after making 198 for 7 and then bowling Everton out for just 121 runs. Veteran David Hallam made a superb 65 and excellent support was on hand from Australian Garth Brown with 32. Jon Shaw was the pick of the Everton attack picking up 3 for 47 as Edwinstowe closed on 198 for 7.

This target never looked likely and despite a brave 32 by Mark Anthony, Everton were dismissed for just 121 and have now slid to the bottom of the table. Ian Smith (3 for 14) registered the best figures of the Edwinstowe attack and they are looking in ominously good form at present.

Worksop managed to take 17 points from a winning draw against Pilsley who are finding life a bit more difficult since gaining promotion last season. Steve Walker (31) and Glen Pym (33) served Worksop well with the bat as they reached 184 for 9 whilst Saed Bin Nasir bagged an impressive 4 for 56.

In reply Pilsley held out at 154 for 7 and one wonders if they had pressed their case a little bit more if they might have achieved a famous victory which would have sent their confidence rocketing sky high. Skipper Steve Drury made an impressive unbeaten 48 and Steve Wright a well constructed 30 whilst for Worksop those two wonderful veterans Steve Ambrose (4 for 48) and Steve Blagg (3 for 24) bowled quite brilliantly.

A tremendous match at Clay Cross saw Biwater pull of a breathtaking four wicket win over Anston who have been in prime form recently. Batting first Anston reached an impressive 250 for 9 with star Pakistani import Akilesh Rana making 83 and Andy Ruczenczyn (56). With such a huge total it is unusual for one bowler to be so outstanding but Ian Bettney proved the exception to the rule taking 7 for 66 in a quite magnificent spell.

In reply the infuriating Michael Bradley who has a ton of talent and fails to go through with it really came good making a sensational unbeaten 83 and with great support from Steve Cracknell (78) Clay Cross reached an astonishing 255 for 6 to see them home in a quite superb match. Gary Tweed took 3 for 54 but it was not enough in a game which was a credit to the standard of Bassetlaw League cricket.

Ashover moved from the foot of the league with a resounding nine wicket win over Whitwell who have the skids at the moment. Batting first Whitwell were dismissed for just 71 with Roger Bolstridge taking 3 for 35 and Charlie Gwillim the astonishing figures of 3 for 5.

This target proved no problem to Ashover who knocked off the runs for the loss of a single wicket. Russell Cooke blasted a quick fire 43 for a much needed win for the home side which lifts them up three much needed places in the league.

N.S.K.’S new South African recruit Jurgen Van der Merwe made instant impact scoring 35 and Ian Sellars (59) out of a total of 156 for 6 and this modest total was more than enough to see off Blyth who are in freefall at the moment. Blyth were dismissed for just 119 with Richard Wylde making 34 and Mark Ambrose (31) whilst Peter Lambert (4 for 27) and Gary Lambert (4 for 18) struck in devastating fashion to guide N.S.K. to an easy 37 runs win.