Edwinstowe win throws them lifeline
by Paul Barker, 2nd August 2004

With the top of the league virtually settled even at this early stage, it is worth taking a look at the foot of the table as several clubs are still battling very hard for survival and this situation could go right down to the wire before it is resolved.

Edwinstowe who were right at the very bottom going into Saturday’s fixtures did themselves a power of good with a comfortable win over fellow strugglers Blidworth by six wickets at Forest Corner. Batting first Blidworth had one of those days that has become all too familiar with them as their batting collapsed dismally and they were bowled out for just 116.

There is no in between’s with this Blidworth side, they are either very good or hopeless and Saturday’s performance certainly fell in the latter category. Batting first they were all back inside for just 116 with only New Zealand import Aran Pairama who made 30 providing any sort of resistance to Edwinstowe skipper Jon Garnham who bowled splendidly to take 5 for 46.

This pathetic target was easily achieved by Edwinstowe with Neil Battison making an excellent 42 as victory was achieved. With this win, Edwinstowe have now moved above both Blidworth and Bolsover and have certainly created a lifeline for themselves and if they continue to play positive cricket they certainly have a chance of survival. It is when they slip into their negative mode that they look a poor team and they need to go all out for as many points as they can get. If they do that, then survival is far from impossible.

Blidworth are now looking as though they might be relegated for the second consecutive year. They have a cluster of very talented young players and will rise again, but they will fight right to the death, Blidworth sides have never given in and this one won’t.

Bolsover capitulated to Cutthorpe who are now very much on a roll once again by seven wickets at Villas Road . The margin of victory was much greater than it looked really and at one time Bolsover were harbouring thoughts of pulling off a major surprise before reality set in.

Batting first Bolsover made 163 for 9 with Eddie Grant making a very useful 45 and Mark Bull adding 39. Asadullah Butt (4 for 60) and Ejaz Khan (4 for 27) were both in prime form and bowled superbly for Cutthorpe to limit the run potential to modest means.

In reply Cutthorpe were shocked to see run machine Andy Thompson back inside without troubling the scorers and another wicket fell with the score at 20. However this was to be their swan song as Nigel Kingham making a very welcome return to the Cutthorpe ranks made a stylish unbeaten 59, and Asadullah Butt with a blistering unbeaten 70 saw their side home with ease.

Cutthorpe must be thinking ‘if only’ because if they had not had that awful run when they lost four consecutive matches they would definitely be breathing down Mansfield Hosiery Mills necks. They have incredibly enough eleven straight victories and are still amazingly 69 points adrift of the Hosiery Mills and quite frankly have no chance of catching them.

Bolsover will fight to the end and nobody must think they are dead and buried. Like Blidworth they have always been a side who never give up and they won’t this time.

Another side who have under achieved this season are Worksop and they could still be dragged into the relegation mire if they are not careful. Their opponents on Saturday were runaway leaders Mansfield Hosiery Mills and needless to say they were badly outgunned from the start.

Batting first Hosiery Mills rattled up a useful 211 for 6 when their 50 overs ran out on a difficult wicket. Only Tom New (58) and David Loveridge (44) really adapted themselves to the conditions and the total represented a good effort in the circumstances.

Worksop were soon in trouble and only skipper Richard Hare (48) put up much of a fight as they saw time out on 112 for 7. Jason Gorman (3 for 30) was the pick of the Hosiery Mills attack and they still remain unbeaten with only six matches left to play.

Second placed Kiveton Park kept up the pressure with an 81 run win over Glapwell. On a real shirt-front Kiveton piled up the runs with openers Ryan Snape who made a brilliant 107 and Adam Burgess (71) adding 170 for the first wicket. Phil Cooper then sprayed it about making 40 before the innings closed on 261 for 6. Dean Graney was the best of the Glapwell bowlers and deserved his success which saw him take 4 for 66.

In reply Glapwell were bowled out for 180 with Graney again doing the business with 50, and Rob Davison (49) and Ian O’Brien (45) both batting well also. The heroes for Kiveton were the youthful Kyle McKeeman who bowled brilliantly to take 6 for 47 and the ever reliable Richard Spurr who chipped in with 3 for 55.

A mid table clash between Bridon and Notts. & Arnold Amateur saw the latter register a comfortable 40 run success. Batting first, Arnold made a none too flattering 174 for 9 in their fifty overs with Ian Flood (58) and Justin Foss (39) leading the way. The rest failed dismally against Colin ‘Percy’ Hurst who bowled with his usual immaculate line and length to capture 5 for 57.

This modest total proved enough however as only Simon Bingham (37) managed to apply himself to the job in hand whilst all the others around him failed. Gary Chapple (6 for 43) bowled brilliantly for Notts. & Arnold who won virtually as they pleased.

The final match in the top section saw Farnsfield grab a four wicket win over Thoresby Colliery with just a couple of balls remaining in a tense finish. Batting first Thoresby made 189 for 7 with Nigel Burkitt carrying his bat for a superb unbeaten 74. Naeed Ahmed continued his good form with 50 and Australian Jon Hill added a further 30 in a good all round display. Keith Miller was the pick of the Farnsfield attack taking 3 for 39 in an excellent spell.

Although early wickets fell Farnsfield were settled by Graham Bramley who made a fine 62 and Mark Silcock (44) as they reached 193 for 6 in a nail biting climax. Jon Hill took 3 for 37 for Thorseby but it was not quite enough to prevent his side from suffering defeat.

There were certainly plenty of fireworks at the top of Division 2 as Marshalls once again in that shaky mood eclipsed fourth placed Eckington but not without one hell of a struggle. One could have been forgiven if after the Eckington innings they were thinking this is a doddle, but the low score acquired by Eckington ought to have told them something.

Eckington have over this season made some huge totals and when they were bowled out for just 71 with Andrew West bowling brilliantly to take 6 for 36, something should have registered that if a side who usually bat so well are bundled out for such a low score then there could well be a reason for it.

There certainly was, as Marshalls spluttered and stuttered to victory losing seven wickets before making the winning hit. Simon West bowled magnificently to take 5 for 31 and Eckington must have seen victory a few times before Marshalls just managed to sneak home.

Marshalls are certainly making hard work of things but they continue to set the pace. This wicket was obviously sub standard but that could have been due to the rain on the morning of the match. Eckington are now fading from the picture at the top but they might well throw a spanner into the works of somebody before the season closes.

Papplewick continue in second place with a sound thrashing of Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2 nd at Goosedale Lane . Batting first Papplewick were indebted once again to Gareth Rusinowski who took his run aggregate for the season to over 700 with another magnificent knock of 102 out of a 46 over total of 196 for 7.

Notts. & Arnold have proved over this season that they are an extremely inconsistent side who can beat the best on their day and then fail dismally. This was one of those latter days as they were bundled out for just 89 runs with Luke Fletcher taking 5 for 15 in a devastating spell of bowling.

Killamarsh kept up the pressure on the top two with a 48 run win at Pilsley in a strange encounter which saw a few twists and turns before the result was finally achieved. Batting first Killamarsh reached 180 for 6 before their overs ran out with Paul Burdett making a superb 61 and Adrian Rivington lifting the tempo when it was needed with a belligerent 38.

Pilsley then moved along quite nicely to 124 for 4 with Said Bin Nasir making 33, and Dave Wright 55, but it was the fall of Wright’s wicket which caused all the consternation. From 124 for 4, Pilsley simply collapsed to 132 all out with the last five wickets all falling by the same method, l.b.w. If there is one way of getting out which causes more controversy than this its difficult to know what, but it happened and whilst Pilsley were disappointed, Killamarsh were overjoyed by another maximum.

Steve Ludlam (4 for 36) and Adrian Rivington (4 for 32) did the majority of the damage and this win means that there is still only twelve points between the top three sides.

N.S.K. continue their climb up the league but once again Clay Cross Works failed after playing their part in a hard fought encounter. Batting first Clay Cross made a disappointing 145 for 8 with Martin Leatherday top scoring with an enterprising 68. Andrew Cox was easily the pick of the N.S.K. attack taking 6 for 34 in an excellent spell.

Still fighting hard, Clay Cross hit back and wickets fell at regular intervals with only Ian Sellars who made a match winning 38 propping up the innings. The Newark side finally achieved their goal with just two wickets remaining in a thrilling finish.

A good batting strip at Whitwell saw the home side register a seven wicket win over struggling North Wheatley with Leverton. Batting first North Wheatley were tied down by some good bowling and although Wayne Harrison and Dave Waller batted well they only had 100 runs on the board with 10 overs remaining.

It was from this point that New Zealander Jason Hill took over and he smashed a magnificent unbeaten 73 as Wheatley finally closed on an impressive 188 for 4.

The start of the Whitwell innings saw Jason Hill change from hero to villain as he continually overstepped and conceded 17 no balls in his first four overs. This along with the magnificent stroke play of Alan Draycott gave Whitwell just the start they needed. Draycott went on to make 63, and received good support from Darren Westerby with 55 as Whitwell coasted to a seven wicket success which gives them a hint of breathing space from the other relegation candidates at the foot of the table.

The final match in Division 2 saw Blyth who are now really struggling go down once more in a low scoring encounter against Anston. Batting first Blyth had no answer whatsoever to Ian Barley (4 for 23) and Andrew Ruczenczyn (4 for 21) and were all out for just 86 runs.

Not that this proved easy as Anston struggled badly with John Smith (4 for 21) producing the goods. They finally achieved the target on 87 for 8 but it was certainly a real struggle before Anston could put their feet up and say ‘a job well done’.