For the second week running a league record has fallen. Umair Hassan, the overseas professional for Long Eaton, became the first player in the league’s history to take all 10 wickets in a match. The previous record by Simon Clarke of Belvoir II was 9 wickets for 5 runs and seemed set in stone but less than 5 cricketing months later it is replaced by Umair’s impressive performance.

At home to Newstead Abbey & Village, Long Eaton had only managed 146/7 in their allotted overs; a total that Newstead felt they could achieve: that was until Hassan got into the action. Two early wickets fell before a devastating spell from the Pakistani right arm fast bowler depleted the heart of Newstead’s challenge.

An amazing low diving catch by wicket-keeper Craig Langton ended the stubborn resistance of a 3^rd Newstead batsman. Next ball an LBW and then a hat-trick ball saw a leg stump yorker take the stump clean out of the ground. Umair was not finished as his fourth ball again brought favour from the umpire as the player was trapped in front of his stumps.  All through this Andy Edge had toiled away wicketless as the stooge to Hassan’s polish but stand-in skipper Alan Villiers acknowledged how important his contribution to the side has been.

As Hassan rolled through the Newstead line up, the required run rate was never that great so an upset was always possible. It was near the end that history could have taken a turn as Villiers took ball in hand and saw a chance dropped at slip by Russell Elliott. Hassan had already collected 9 wickets and when he ran in next over he again uprooted the leg stump to record the fantastic achievement of 10 wickets in a match. The 23 year old all-rounder will have a little more to tell the family in Pakistan when he sends his pay cheque home this week. Amazingly Hassan has taken 25 wickets in his last 3 matches and 36 this season, but still turns up at nets to coach the others.

Despite Long Eaton’s domination they only lie 3^rd in Division A as the only undefeated team, Plumtree, were able to overhaul Radcliffe’s 193/7 for the loss of 4 wickets.  Next week sees the completion of half the season and Plumtree are a whopping 3 points average clear of the opposition.

Attenborough have had a poor time recently but all that ended in their away victory at Eastwood Town.  Alec McGinley (179*) and Richard Turney (86*) helped amass the day’s highest score of 303/2.  Sam Culow (6/31) then demoralised one-time leaders Eastwood to 67 all out.  Second placed Gedling Colliery (259/4) managed a winning draw, thanks mainly to Dave Mason’s 110 as Loughborough Carillon (193/7) fell 66 short of victory but with 3 wickets intact. In the remaining fixture, Balderton scored 167/9 and pushed Rolls Royce Leisure (168/8) to the last over before losing by 2 wickets.

Top comfortably beat bottom in division B. Gedling Sherwood (178/8), with the help of inform bowler Paul MacMillan (8/13), dismissed Bottesford for just 77 runs. Second place Ellerslie (184/7) were held to a losing draw as they tried in vain to chase Belvoir’s 193/8.  In a low scoring encounter, Bramcote (119) defeated Nottingham (86) by 33 runs. Newark batsman Steve Kennewell  hit 161 as his side rattled along at nearly 6 an over whilst Thurgarton could only manage just over 2 with David Johnson (6/41) weaving his magic.

 There were two centuries as Radcliffe on Trent II beat Clifton Village II. Chris Newman (121) and Lee Houghton (104*) made light work of Clifton’s 247/8, ensuring Radcliffe’s win for the loss of only 2 wickets and denting Clifton’s promotion hopes. Wilsons CC (192/7), though, go from strength to strength as they recorded their 8^th straight win; this one at home to Keyworth (79).  Thrumpton (78/6) remain in 2^nd spot with a hard fought victory at Hickling (76), who were 20 runs short of a competitive total. Hucknall II (217/6) suffered a defeat for the first time this season, losing at home to Beeston (221/7); David Brueilly (131*) taking his side to victory.

Tony Bestwick (6/31) stopped Long Eaton II’s (158) challenge to Farndon’s total of 219/6 that Mark Townroe had contributed to with a top score of 89. West Bridgford (219/2) had a win as openers Adey Coper (90*) and Rob Carpenter (59) put on 105 for the first wicket; Nottingham (196) made a spirited challenge before failing by 23 runs.

Rainworth Welfare’s (287/5) record breaker of last weekend, Shiraz Khalid (115), hit another century along with team mate Andy Cooper (100) but only managed 17 points as Risley defended their wickets to close on 124/4. Thrumpton II (203/3), with Justin Willing (93) missing out on a deserved century, stretched their lead in division L beating Sawley & Long Eaton Park III (157/6).

Kimberley Institute’s youngsters brought an end to Belton’s winning streak but they were pushed to the last ball. Earlier 16 year old Justin Corbett (60) and 13 year old Danny Williams (41) helped Kimberley to a respectable 204/8.  Belton fought all the way, needing 4 runs off the final ball for victory, but managed none. In the same division, Bingham (141) also went to the final ball before losing to Breaston (142/9).

 In division R,  Belvoir III (201/2) and Toton Sycamore II (200/5) shared 400 runs at over 6 runs an over with a first ever 50 for bowler Matt Hatton (51*). Thrumpton III (173/1) openers Tony Downie (77*) and Trevor Vennett-Smith (41) shared their 2^nd century opening partnership in 3 weeks as they consolidated top spot beating 2^nd place Ellerslie (90/8). There was another thrilling climax in the clash between West Bridgfordians (135) and Kimberley Institute IV (136/7). Kimberley hit the winning runs off the very last ball.