Edwinstowe widen the gap
by Paul Barker, 5th June 2005

After bowling out high flying Edwinstowe for just 108, Notts. & Arnold Amateurs must have felt that their season was about to take off at Goosedale Sports Club on Saturday, but they were to quickly learn that their opponents are not top of the table for nothing as they struck back mightily to remove the home side for 103 and record a fantastic five run win.

This was a match that had just about everything especially for the bowlers. For the batsmen life was nowhere near as comfortable as is shown by the low scores which prevailed and the fact that the wicket was most definitely sub standard. However there were more twists and turns in a match that will be remembered for a long time.

Batting first Edwinstowe were soon in trouble at 14 for 5 but the Australian Garth Brown who has been in splendid form all season held things together with a score of 50 which would have been worth at least double on a normal day and a normal wicket.

Anybody who scored a few runs was a hero and Nigel Dunn who made an invaluable 21 and a last wicket partnership of 23 between Richard Gombos and Sean Bullin proved to be the most vital of all, to Edwinstowe. Ian Flood (3 for 46), Scott Leivers (4 for 23) and Paul Murphy (3 for 25) shared the wickets between them and all three did an excellent job for their side in helpful conditions.

After tea however the wicket looked to have eased and Ian Flood and Jamie Marchant put on 32 for the first wicket. Australian Leigh Baldry then added a further 28 and Danny Nicholls (20) but from a comfortable 70 for 3, Notts. & Arnold ’s batting followed in a military procession from and back to the pavilion as they were dismissed for just 103 runs.

Richard Gombos was their tormentor in chief taking an incredible 8 for 26 and nobody could cope with his bounce and accuracy. Edwinstowe will play better than this and lose but they certainly ‘dug in’ when things weren’t going for them and that is always the sign of a good side when they can make things go for them when its all going wrong.

After an indifferent start to the season, Farnsfield seem to be playing to something like their full capability and they recorded another huge scalp when they totally swamped Kiveton Park at Stone Close. Last week they initiated the first defeat of the season on Edwinstowe, but this one was much more conclusive as they blasted Kiveton away by a huge nine wicket margin.

Batting first the usually potent Kiveton batting machine collapsed totally under the constant threat posed by Kiwi Mark Silcock (5 for 45) and Mark Hallam (3 for 36) who certainly made their ‘mark’ on proceedings and were all out for a paltry 116 runs.

On a wicket as good as the Stone Close one, this was never going to be much of a problem and Farnsfield coasted to victory on 120 for 4 with James Bennett top scoring on 37. It is still too early to judge what will happen, but Farnsfield on a ‘man to man’ ratio are as strong if not stronger than any side in the league and if they can remain consistent all the other sides would be well advised to heed the warnings they have delivered in the last fortnight!

Cutthorpe are another side who have picked things up after a dodgy start and although they were thwarted by the weather they still managed fourteen points for an interrupted match against Cuckney. Batting first, Cutthorpe looked something like the side we have become used to over the last few years as they piled up the runs in impressive fashion.

Andy Thompson (79), Asadullah Butt (36) and Karl Fields (61 n.o.) were the main contributors in a 50 over total of 200 for 6 whilst Richard Stroh, Cuckney’s impressive South African all rounder carried on his good work taking 4 for 64 in a good stint of bowling.

Then the rains fell making the game a ‘time’ match and Cuckney were well served by Simon Shipp (52) and that man Richard Stroh (30) once again. Only 38 overs were possible when the time ran out but Cuckney were hanging on desperately at 164 for 9 with Asadullah Butt perpetrating most of the damage with 7 for 46 in a magnificent spell of bowling.

Cutthorpe can count themselves a little unfortunate on this occasion because the rain only interfered with a minimal number of matches and they happened to be one of them. They would surely have picked up a maximum if play had gone through uninterrupted.

Thoresby Colliery who have slipped in recent weeks came back to form with a memorable 10 run win over Bridon in a ‘classic’ encounter. Batting first Thoresby were dismissed for 171 with skipper Martin Cheshire (35) and Shailesh Patel (32) being the only players to resist the excellent bowling of Matt Makins who took 5 for 38 in a highly impressive stint.

In reply, Bridon were well served by Darren Spooner (50) and Simon Davison (32) but the Thoresby attack bowled superbly to have them all out for 161 and claim maximum points. All the Thoresby bowlers and in particular Naeed Ahmed bowled brilliantly whilst Billy Lippeatt (3 for 19) was the most productive.

After their setback against Edwinstowe on Bank Holiday Monday, Glapwell returned to normal service against Worksop at Central Avenue with an overwhelming 56 run win which leaves the home side anchored at the foot of the league table and in serious trouble.

Batting first Glapwell reached 222 for 7 with Rob Davison (70) and Nick Truswell (66) leading the charge. New Zealander Iain O’Brien (47 n.o.) hit out well for good measure towards the end and only Simon Robson who bowled very well to take 4 for 49 and Paul Burton did anything to keep the score in check.

The target set was always going to be too many and Worksop slumped to 166 all out with little resistance offered. Only Glenn Pym (46) and Pete Jones (38) who has recently returned to the ranks from Blyth showed any form of application as Iain O’Brien (6 for 44) and Andy Clarke (3 for 34) just sliced through the rest with consummate ease to record a rather simple victory.

Killamarsh kept up their recovery with a winning draw over the other promoted side Marshalls who are beginning to look as though they are facing a very long and arduous season. Batting first Killamarsh piled up the division’s highest score of the day reaching 249 for 6 with Sam Malpass (92), South African, Hennie Basson (55) and Peter Allen (31). Andy West (3 for 38) was the best Marshall bowler in an attack that suffered a severe examination of its capabilities all afternoon.

In reply Marshalls managed 196 for 5 in a rather unadventurous tilt at the Killamarsh target. With five wickets to spare and only 53 runs needed it makes one wonder what could have been achieved had they taken their foot of the brakes a bit earlier. As it stands John Deacon (37) and Australian Tim Down (77 n.o.) top scored for them but they may look back later on in the season and think that this was a chance if their attitude had been more on the positive side. David Allen (3 for 39) was the pick of the Killamarsh attack and they are gradually creeping away from danger.

In Division 2, leaders Anston came right back to winning ways with a three wicket win over Notts. & Arnold 2nds in a thriller at Ryton Road . Notts. & Arnold batted quite well reaching a reasonable total of 179 all out with Greg. Martin (70) and Mark North (38) both batting well against an accurate pace attack in which Ian Barley bowled his usual accurate line and length stuff to take 4 for 40 and enjoyed good support from Graham Tweed (3 for 37).

The usually excellent Anston wicket was giving a little more help to the bowlers than usual and the home side had to ‘dig in’ before they claimed a hard fought victory. This was mainly due to two marvellous knocks from Jonathan Geary (54) who is in prime form at the moment and Nigel Staniland (84 n.o.) who battled quite brilliantly for his side. Gary Woods captured 4 for 68 to keep Notts. & Arnold in the match but finally he had to concede as Anston reached their target.

Anston keep plugging along at the top and they do have a very good side who never know the meaning of the word ‘beaten’. They will not be far away when the honours are dished out at the end of the campaign.

Second placed Bolsover were also made to struggle before recording an important five wicket win at Papplewick. Batting first it quickly became apparent that this was not a typical Papplewick ‘shirt-front’ track as many have been over the years but one where the word ‘graft’ was the definition needed to apply.

Only the highly talented youngster Richard Arbury who made a superb 41 denied the Bolsover attack in which skipper Charlie Walker (4 for 27) was outstanding for long. The final total of 134 for 8 looked modest enough but with the ball not ‘coming on’ a few pangs of anxiety looked possible.

And so it proved as Mark Bull and Andy Crookes made a steady and unadventurous start before the latter was bowled by Steve Alford with the score on 20. Alford struck again when Andy Rodgers was unfortunate to be given out, trapped l.b.w., and Usman Saeed was brilliantly caught at deep point this time off the bowling of Ian Hardy.

Bull was sedately piling up the score at the other end and with the assistance of the aggressive Steve Wooley he took the score to within the bounds of victory before Hardy bowled the latter with a ball that knocked back his leg stump. Bull was finally out for a very important 54 and his was the main match winning contribution and with Matt. Griffith clubbing the winning runs, Bolsover reached the target with five wickets to spare to keep up the pressure on the leaders. Ian Hardy with 3 for 35 bowled well for Papplewick but his effort was all in vain.

Pilsley have certainly become a threat and they enjoyed another positive result against North Wheatley with Leverton to bolster their fourth place spot in the table. Batting first Pilsley were indebted to Andy Keighley (35), the brilliant Saeed Bin Nasir (46) and prolific run scorer Dave Wright (45) as they reached a useful looking 184 for 7 when the overs ran out.

North Wheatley never looked likely to trouble this score finishing on 96 for 9 and had it not been for a dogged effort by skipper Nick Purkiss (25 n.o.) they would surely have lost. Saeed Bin Nasir was at his best with the ball taking 5 for 31 and it is impossible to keep this guy’s name out of things, he is such a talent!

Ransome & Marles continued their descent of the table in spectacular fashion with a one wicket defeat by Whitwell who now move above them in the league. Apart from Peter Litchfield (30) the rest of the Ransome’s batting was a catastrophe as they were bowled out for 125 with Ryan Coalwood (4 for 17) doing the bulk of the damage.

In reply Whitwell could not make anything of the wicket either but scrapped their way to 126 for 9 and a maximum points haul in a desperately close finish. Gary Lambert (3 for 44) and Paul Burrell (3 for 22) did their best to put Ransomes back in the game but they must have yearned for another ten runs from their batsmen.

Eckington continue to sit on the fringe of things and they did their cause no harm at all when they beat Farnsfield 2 nd by six wickets at Station Lane . Batting first Farnsfield reached a disappointing 158 for 9 with Graham Bramley totally dominating the innings with a magnificent 98. All the Eckington attack bowled well with Dave Barton, Simon West, Tom Dawson and Wayne Dye all claiming a couple of wickets each.

John Daniel who is in a tremendous run of form at the moment was again the leading light making an unbeaten 67 and ably assisted by his skipper Tom Dawson who made 64 n.o., Eckington cruised to victory on 163 for 4. Pete Wood and Pete Worrall both claimed a brace of wickets each but Eckington were in charge for most of this match and they stayed that way right through to the finish.

Everton who claimed their first win of the season on Bank Holiday Monday almost followed that up by beating Blidworth but in the end narrowly failed by two wickets after a fighting comeback by the lower order.

Batting first, Everton were well served by John Mimms (52) as they made 166 all out with Craig Turton being the best of the Blidworth attack with 3 for 12.

Although this score looked modest, Blidworth moved away to a shocking start losing five wickets before 40 was reached and the Everton attack must have been feeling cock-a-hoop with another victory being very much on the cards. However a great knock of 61 by Dave Wilcock who was well supported by Dave Wood (31) finally saw Blidworth to 169 for 8 and victory with Everton wondering how they had managed to lose it.

Neil Waghorne (3 for 56) was the best of the Everton bowlers and both sides deserve praise for the way they battled it out to the finish.