Cutthorpe close up on leaders
by Paul Barker, 25th May 2003

Champions Cutthorpe moved menacingly to within ten points of the top of the table with a thoroughly professional showing against an outgunned Bolsover at Villas Road on Saturday. Batting first Bolsover were once again indebted to their brilliant Pakistani import Tariq Rashid who clubbed his second century of the season scoring 106 out of a Bolsover total of 192 all out.

Rashid was quite brilliant as he stroked the ball to all sides of the park despite the superb efforts of Asadullah Butt (3 for 90) and Andy Pierrepont (5 for 77). However he badly needed some real support to achieve the 250 run target which was very necessary.

It wasn’t to be however and Cutthorpe openers Andy Thompson (83 n.o.) and Chris Marples (85) quickly blazed a trail to victory as the score raced to 195 for 2 and the champions form looks very ominous whilst they are in this mood.

North Wheatley produced the performance of the day beating Farnsfield by 13 runs at Station Lane. Batting first North Wheatley must have been very disappointed to have been bowled out for just 100 with Dave Waller top scoring on 31. Kiwi Mark Silcock (3 for 19) and Keith Miller 4 for 23) did the damage and at half way Farnsfield must have been congratulating themselves on a job well done.

It was not to be however and brilliant bowling from South African Tiene Maree (5 for 60) and evergreen Jamie Bovill (3 for 6) soon had Farnsfield all back inside for just 87 runs. This was a great victory for North Wheatley and will have done their confidence no end of good for the matches ahead.

Two teams who have been struggling for form Glapwell and Kiveton Park found it yesterday and will be pleased with their efforts and rightly so. Glapwell with skipper Phil Matthews making a splendid unbeaten 83 and Andy Smith (34) reached an imposing 206 for 4. These two batsmens work was supplemented by an amazing 58 extras of which 18 were byes, 10 leg byes, 9 no balls and an astonishing 21 wides and Thoresby were made to pay dearly for this avoidable indiscretion.

In persuit of this target Thoresby finished a disappointing 23 runs short with six wickets still in hand. Australian Daniel Nash made a good 60 and Martin Cheshire was unbeaten on 82, but the Glapwell attack deserved their reward for some tidy and miserly bowling especially from Nick Bircumshaw who took 3 for 28 and former Notts. Star Andy Pick.

Considering Glapwell were without two other main bowlers Gary Saxby and Stuart Hall because of injury it was a tremendous perfomance and one which will do wonders for their confidence in the future.

Kiveton Park who had such a good season last term registered an important win over Killamarsh by 64 runs. Batting first Kiveton reached a competent 175 for 6 with Richard Grainger (46) and Australian Matthew Williams who had a really big influence on this match making 76. Killamarsh were well served by Lee Bradbury who is having a very good season, took 3 for 53 and Peter Allen backed up well with 2 for 71.

This target proved far too much as Killamarsh batted disappointingly with only Peter Allen (34) and Sam Malpass (25) making any impression as they were bowled out for 111. Richard Spurr (3 for 25) and Matthew Williams who enjoyed a terrific match took 5 for 30 as Kiveton romped to their first win of the season and maximum points.

In Division 2 the battle between two prolific run scoring imports Pilsley’s Pakistani Saed Bin Nasir and Whitwell’s South African Michael Alexander went the way of the latter with both of them making a huge impact. Pilsley were disappointingly bowled out for 152 with Bin Nasir making 85 whilst Ian Dennis (4 for 16) and Nathan Morris (3 for 47) both bowled very well.

In reply Alexander went one further as Whitwell romped home by nine wickets and the South African’s personal tally being an unbeaten 117 as his side reached 156 for 1.

Leaders Eckington came to grief as Marshalls beat them by six wickets at Gainsborough. Batting first Eckington reached 112 all out which was a disappointing total considering Mark Bridgeman had made 33 and Tom Dawson 30. Mark Davies (4 for 21) and Brian Andrews (3 for 24) were the wreckers in chief and Marshalls easily knocked off the desired runs at 115 for 4. Australian Tim Down (36 n.o.) and Mark Davies (30) were the batsmen in form whilst Eckington skipper Simon Emson (4 for 31) tried in vain to turn proceedings round without any luck.

Anston were indebted to Mark Parkinson who made a solid unbeaten 37 as his side were held to 147 for 7 at N.S.K. for whom skipper Gary Lambert bagged 4 for 36. Lambert was also in form with the bat making an unbeaten 42 and Peter Litchfield (42) made the same score but it was not enough as N.S.K. were reduced to 135 for 8 at the close. Anston’s hero was Ian Barley who bowled magnificently to take 5 for 52 as his side reached a much needed winning draw.

The top of the table clash between Worksop and Edwinstowe went the way of the latter who registered an all important winning draw. Batting first Edwinstowe owed a debt of gratitude to Ian Smith for a brilliant unbeaten 66. Rob Sansom (3 for 30) and Paul Burton (3 for 53) both bowled well as Edwinstowe were limited to just 164 for 9.

This turned out to be enough as Worksop were very quickly in serious trouble and only a fighting 43 by Rob Sanson saved them from certain defeat. John Garnham 4 for 43 was the pick of the Edwinstowe attack as Worksop just held on at 141 for 9.

John Shaw made 36 as Everton struggled to 120 for 7 against Ashover before rain curtailed play for the day.