Kiveton still lead the pack
by Paul Barker, 6th June 2004

Since their ascendancy to the top of the table last weekend, Kiveton Park seem to have gained a massive injection of confidence to go with their undoubted talent. Despite failing to manage an outright win, Kiveton enjoyed virtually total domination over Worksop on the way to another 17 points at Central Avenue.

Batting first Kiveton racked up a massive 269 for 6 as Worksop struggled to contain their rampant batting line-up. The hugely talented Adam Burgess made a magnificent unbeaten 106 and it makes one wonder if Kiveton would have lost a single wicket had the Australian Ryan Snape not been forced to retire hurt.

Snape had made a glorious unbeaten 75 at the time of the accident and all Worksop could do was take part in fruitless chases for the ball as it kept disappearing over the boundary rope as the score clicked on. Glen Pym with 3 for 60 was the most creditable bowler but even he conceded close to six runs an over doing it!

In reply Worksop never attempted the virtually impossible after early setbacks and settled for a draw very early.

Even this proved difficult as nobody got settled at all and they closed on 105 for 8. Richard Spurr (3 for 27) and Dean Walker (3 for 13) were the pick of the Kiveton attack as Worksop held on doggedly.

It is still early days but this Kiveton side is brimming with confidence and they are playing wonderful cricket. It would be a fool who wrote them off for the title and whilst they are in this form, it will take a very good side to compete with them. Worksop certainly couldn’t on this display and came a very distant second.

The ninth match of the season proved a bridge too far for Notts. & Arnold Amateur when they were unceremoniously thrashed by Cuckney at Langwith Road . Going into this match Notts. & Arnold had gleaned seven maximum points hauls plus a weather draw, a near perfect record, but Cuckney were in no mood to stand aside and admire them.

From the start Cuckney got stuck in and had it not been for last weekend’s hero Julian Thornhill (31) and Don Leiper (30) Notts. & Arnold would have fared even worse as they were bowled out for just 146. Australian Dave Newman who is proving a massive asset to Cuckney used the cloud cover to perfection swinging the ball prodigiously to take 5 for 38 in a magnificent spell of bowling. He was well backed-up by off spinner Paul Gurnell who weaved his web of magic to take 3 for 47 in an equally good stint.

Despite losing four wickets Cuckney never looked like relaxing their grip on the game and that man Newman capped a fine all round performance with a superb 51. Fine support came from Will Montgomery with a majestic 60 as Cuckney reached 148 for 4 and twenty points in a memorable display.

Moving up into second place are Mansfield Hosiery Mills who won a titanic struggle at Farnsfield by five wickets. Batting first Farnsfield reached 222 for 6 with James Bennett making a brilliant 93 and Paul Franks adding 58. Matt Milnes was the best of the Hosiery Mills attack taking 4 for 40 in a good spell of medium paced bowling.

This huge total would have threatened most sides but Hosiery Mills came through superbly to record a magnificent win. No doubting the hero was Jason Gorman who made a sensational unbeaten 110 and Asela Jayasinghe added fine support with 46.

What has happened to Cutthorpe is anyone’s guess! They started the season like a house on fire but have now become such a damp squib that any team they play must fancy their chances of beating them. The latest side to do just that was lowly Edwinstowe and it was no fluke either. Quite frankly it was a proverbial thrashing by 78 runs and Edwinstowe are now beginning to look as if they have come to terms with participating in this section.

Batting first Edwinstowe made an acceptable but not threatening 161 for 7 with Australian Garth Brown (39) top scoring against an accurate Cutthorpe attack in which Asadullah Butt (4 for 43) was the outstanding member.

Nobody could have envisaged what happened next however as Cutthorpe were unceremoniously bundled out for just 83 with Richard Gombos (3 for 34) and John Garnham (3 for 8) running riot! It is difficult to work out what has gone wrong with Cutthorpe who looked to be in a class of their own two weeks ago and have now become the team that everyone fancies playing.

Edwinstowe however deserve full credit for their magnificent display and having been slaughtered by the same opposition a few weeks ago, they turned it round in style. With spirit and commitment like this they have every chance of surviving at the end of the season.

Bridon kept close to the chasing pack with a narrow 6 run win over Bolsover in a real thriller at Ordsall. Batting first Bridon were dismissed for 156 with Simon Bingham (47) and skipper Simon Fenwick (41) providing immensely valuable runs against the excellent Bolsover attack in which Skipper Charlie Walker bagged 6 for 76 and Steve Wooley (3 for 14).

Bolsover looked set for victory when they needed only 15 runs with three wickets in hand but the one thing that Bridon do possess in abundance is fighting spirit and they came back to grab the wickets required in a tense nail-biting finish.

Steve Wooley (46) who certainly didn’t deserve to end on the losing side and Andy Rodgers (42) were the best of the Bolsover batsmen, but Rob Smart (6 for 48) produced his second six wicket haul in a week to complete a memorable victory for Bridon in an excellent match played in a wonderful spirit.

One of the quickest matches of the day took place at Blidworth were the home side were totally overwhelmed by nine wickets by Thoresby Colliery. Blidworth put on a quite abysmal display and were bowled out for just 96 with only Ritchie Gibbons (21) applying himself to the job in hand. Thoresby’s attack in which Steve Willis (5 for 40) and Jon Hill (4 for 23) bowled with precise execution never relaxed their grip on the game and Blidworth’s batting simply couldn’t cope with it.

45 minutes later it was all over as Martin Cheshire (39), Jon Hill (28 n.o.) and Paul Hughes (22 n.o.) flayed some mediocre bowling to all parts of the ground. On the evidence of this display Blidworth face a tremendous struggle to prevent a second consecutive relegation whilst Thoresby looked a far better side than their position in the league would suggest. One further point worthy of note from the match was the performance of Thoresby wicket-keeper Nigel Burkitt who held four brilliant catches and Peter Scott who held three amazing efforts with the one to dismiss Gibbons being as good as you are likely to see in any standard of cricket.

Division 2 leaders Killamarsh came to grief in a complete reversal of form at Goosedale Lane against Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2 nd. Batting first, Killamarsh who have taken all before them this season could only muster 168 for 7 in their 46 overs with Paul Burdett top scoring with 51. Gareth Chapple (3 for 23) was the pick of the Notts. & Arnold attack and they could feel quite happy with their performance at the half way stage.

It was to get even better as Joe Pallister (59) and Harvey Burton (31) guided Notts. & Arnold to a surprise four wicket win on 169 for 6. Steve Ludlam (3 for 54) bowled splendidly, but this was a major shock and a very good win for a side who have been struggling for form this season.

Another cracker as always saw Papplewick & Linby 2 nd manage a winning draw at Eckington. Once again groundsman Chris Drury prepared a tremendous strip and Papplewick used it to good advantage as they made 232 for 7 with Jamie Peat top scoring on 62.

Eckington made an excellent reply but for once Tom Dawson (85) didn’t quite receive the support he needed as his side reached 207 for 9 when the overs ran out. Tom Brown (3 for 61) and Matthew Alford (3 for 33) were the pick of the Papplewick attack who never gave up even when the odds looked stacked against them. This result moves Papplewick back to the top of the table.

Moving menacingly up into second place are Marshalls who completely whacked Whitwell by 123 runs at the Rookery. Batting first Marshalls made a massive 238 for 7 with Kevin Housham (37) and James Deacon leading the way. Deacon finished on a superb unbeaten 96 and must have been heartbroken not to have reached a deserved century when the overs ran out. Nathan Morris was the best of the hard worked Whitwell attack, taking 3 for 109 from a long and arduous spell.

In reply Whitwell were never ‘at the races’ collapsing to just 115 all out. Mark Davies initiated the collapse bowling a superb line and length to take 6 for 21 as Marshalls picked up a maximum points haul.

The incredible Pakistani star Saeed Bin Nasir once again almost won a match on his own scoring 138 n.o. from Pilsley’s 180 for 8 at Elm Avenue , Newark . The amazing thing about this knock was that the second highest scorer only had eight runs to his name! Andrew Cox with 4 for 62 was the best of the N.S.K. bowlers but they must have wished they had not run into Bin Nasir.

In reply N.S.K. almost won the match before being bowled out just 5 runs short on 175 all out. Ian Sellars (42) and Nigel Murray (71) both batted superbly but two excellent efforts by Mark Limb (3 for 52) and John Worthy (4 for 15) turned the match in Pilsley’s favour and gave them a much needed 20 points.

Blyth helped their cause near the foot of the table with a well earned winning draw over North Wheatley with Leverton. Batting first Blyth were in all kinds of trouble until a late partnership between Mark Ambrose (55) and John Smith helped them reach respectability with a total of 154 for 9 as the overs ran out. Jason Hill (4 for 54) and Rob Hackney (4 for 73) were the best of the North Wheatley bowlers and they must have been quite pleased with their work at this stage.

It was not to be however as Wheatley struggled badly to reach 129 for 8 when the overs ran out with only a fine innings by skipper Richard Robinson (45) saving them from certain defeat. John Smith (3 for 51) and Aran Haycock (3 for 11) bowled brilliantly for Blyth who picked up fifteen most valuable points.

Anston and Clay Cross fought out a good contest before the former took sixteen points for a winning draw. Batting first Anston were once again indebted to Andrew Ruczenczyn who made a terrific 63 and skipper Ian Barley who added a valuable unbeaten 32 after coming in at number ten. Ian Bettney (5 for 49) and Prasad Parimi (3 for 36) were the pick of the Clay Cross attack as Anston reached 161 for 9 when their overs ran out.

In reply Clay Cross made 150 for 8 with Ian Knowles (38 n.o.) and Ian Bettney (40 n.o.) trying hard in a forlorn attempt to win the match for their side. Ian Barley with 4 for 57 completed a fine all round performance for Anston but Clay Cross desperately need to find some form and points before they become divorced from the rest at the foot of the table.