Sycamore return to triple winning form
by Dennis Wright, 14th July 2003

Toton Sycamore return to Triple Winning form as all teams recorded victories for only the 2nd time. 1st up were the 2nd XI who had dismissed Nottingham III for just 106.

In a weekend that saw many players away on holiday, or in the case of Jason Catchpole at the side of his partner expecting their 1st child (42 hours later no news), Toton's chance of victory seemed slim. Dennis Fearon bowled with a renewed vigour to take 4/22 and when Peter Manning (33*) went in to bat he steered Toton home for only their 3rd win of the season.

The 1st XI still smarting from last week's defeat to Underwood came out fighting at Nuthall. Having lost the toss Toton fielded superbly in the heat as Nuthall were reduced to 97/7 by the 32nd over. Skipper Mick Harris (53*) took Nuthall to a respectable 151 on the back of an amazing 4 over spell where two catches were spilled and two easier catches hit the deck without a hand on them.

Captain Simon Bennett must have felt like pulling his hair out at such a Jeckyl & Hyde performance. Batting continued in a similar fashion as 1st the batsmen looked set to guide Toton home and then a disaster as a game all but won was now in the balance. David Fawcett who had earlier taken 4 wickets was the batting star as his patient 40 pushed nearer to the finish line.

Overs and wickets slipped after Fawcett's departure until amazingly 5 runs were still needed off the last over with no batsmen left in the club house. A play and miss from Jason Monaghan off the 1st and 2nd balls was helped as the ball bounced away off the keepers' legs and a single taken. 4 balls and 4 runs turned into 2 runs and 1 ball.

The field in close and Tony Fawcett on strike the delivery from the impressive Richard Marsh saw the ball hit back to the left of the bowler. The batsman scrambled in a frantic effort to take a tying run but Marsh deflected the ball past the advancing mid-off and Toton were able to scramble a second and winning run.

Toton's 1st win of the domestic season came away at Chesterfield Congregational, and the return fixture brought renewed hope that the 5 match Sunday winning streak would continue.

Having won the toss Chesterfield surprisingly elected to bat and struggled all the way through. Despite the temperatures the bowling was tight and fielding excellent, however the fast outfield meant if you beat the fielder the result was 4 runs. Jason Brookes continued his improved form and although wicketless his 8 overs yielded 31 runs. Tony Beck 2/18 and guest Andrew Richardson 3/33 kept the pressure on as Chesterfield tried to build a total to defend.

Some generous bowling at the end pushed them up to 148/6. Rob Stewart opened the batting and made light work off the attack as he smashed his way to 34. In the 1st over a confident appeal was turned down and the fielders took an aggressive attitude for the rest of the game spoiling the day. When Stewart was out Ian Day, whose performances behind the stumps improve each week, came in and blitzed the attack to all parts. With the winning total in sight, he launched a mighty "six" in to the retirement home gardens to bring victory and his 1st 50 for the club.

Saturday sees Toton 1st XI visit Awsworth in 1D and Belvoir III travel to the 2nd XI at Inham Nook. On Sunday the popular Radcliffe Rovers return to Toton Manor.