Spirited Marshalls stun Edwinstowe
by Paul Barker, 12th June 2005

The Gainsborough side of Marshall Sports have definitely not had their fair share of luck since achieving Division 1 status this season and their performances have seen them slump to a position which is too close for comfort near the foot of the table.

Firstly their championship winning skipper Kevin Housham who scored nearly 900 runs for them last season decided to quit, and then an extremely talented Australian all rounder Glenn Talorica who made an enormous impact in his first match against Worksop decided he was home-sick after only a fortnight in the country and high-tailed it back home to the other side of the world.

So it was no surprise that their performances had slumped, but one could notice from the matches that they had played, there still remained that burning desire to do well and they remained a long way from giving up the ghost. This showed in no small way as they entertained league leaders Edwinstowe at Middlefield Lane on Saturday.

Batting first, Marshalls were soon in trouble with Paul Van den Heuvel and James Deacon both sent back by the re-juvenated Richard Gombos who looked intent on carrying on the form that saw him bag eight Notts. & Arnold Amateur wickets in their last match.

However a great partnership of 87 by Mark Whitlam who struck the ball extremely well in making 64, and skipper Tim Down (49) put the home side back in the game and with some lusty blows from Mark Davies in particular Marshalls totalled 197 for 8 when the 50 overs elapsed. Edwinstowe’s Asif Zakir who was undoubtedly the man of the match took 4 for 51 with an impressive stint of slow bowling after keeping wicket for the first half of the innings!

Edwinstowe got off to the worst start possible losing a wicket with only two runs on the board, but a long and productive stand between Dave Hallam who made an extremely solid 51 before being run out and that man Asif Zakir who after a nervy start contributed a magnificent 92 put them right back in the game.

However Marshalls fielded quite brilliantly guarding the boundaries as if they were sacred, and this paid off as the scoring rate dropped and left Edwinstowe needing 40 runs off the last four overs. Despite a huge last over which included a towering six over mid wicket by Richard Gombos they fell just nine runs short on 188 for 4 and Marshalls picked up a winning draw and fourteen points which will do their confidence a power of good for the battle to come.

Edwinstowe will be disappointed but considering they were four major players down this was not a bad performance. Once again this match illustrates how close the league is this season and more shocks will happen before things are decided in early September.

Lurking menacingly on the sidelines are Farnsfield and Cutthorpe who man for man are probably the two most powerful sides in the combination. After an indifferent start to the season both these two fancied teams are now in prime form and have a game in hand each over the sides above them in the table.

Firstly Farnsfield trounced Killamarsh to end their mini-revival at Station Lane by an emphatic and impressive 99 runs. Batting first, Farnsfield made full use of their terrific wicket scoring a daunting 231 for 8 and the top four batsmen James Bennett ((48), Paul Delaney (46), Paul Franks (43) and skipper Andy Edwards (57) all made their presence felt in no small way. Adrian Rivington carried the most threat in an overworked Killamarsh attack taking 3 for 46 in a good workmanlike stint.

In reply Killamarsh were hustled out for just 132 despite a solid 46 from Richard Crabtree. Pete Allen made 29 also but the rest of the batting simply crumbled as Neil Sharp (4 for 33) bowled extremely accurately and got the rewards he deserved.

Cutthorpe had the double done over them by Notts. & Arnold Amateur last season, but there was to be no repeat this time around as the latter went down heavily by seven wickets at the Recreation Ground. Batting first Notts. & Arnold were dismissed for a dismal 140 with Ejaz Khan capturing 6 for 35 in a mightily impressive spell of bowling.

This target proved woefully inadequate as Andy Thompson (41) and Asadullah Butt (36 n.o.) blasted Cutthorpe to 141 for 3 and victory in cavalier style. Cutthorpe now look a major threat to everyone and will take some stopping in this form.

The teams occupying positions 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th in the table all claimed maximum points hauls and have closed up considerably on Edwinstowe. Firstly Thoresby Colliery simply brushed aside Worksop who have become everyone’s chopping block at the moment by a whopping six wicket margin.

Batting first Worksop stood at a substantial 98 for 2 at Fourth Avenue with Tim Ward (35) and Pete Jones (45) both batting well. Then, cometh the hour, cometh the man and Thoresby had that man in the form of slow bowler Bill Lippeatt who turned the game around totally as he bagged 6 for an incredible 15 runs as Worksop collapsed to just 148 all out.

Thoresby had little bother knocking off this modest total and David Irvine (36), Richard Hope (31 n.o.) and Farook Aziz (30 n.o.) treated it as if it was a ‘stroll in the park’ as they raced home with plenty of time and wickets to spare. Thoresby are still in the race at the top, but every week gets worse for Worksop who need a major injection of confidence in their ranks if they are to survive.

Glapwell also continued their good form and totally eclipsed Bridon by seven wickets at Park Avenue . It seems a far cry from those heady days of the 80s for Bridon when they won title after title and to see them turn out with only ten men is quite simply heartbreaking. However Glapwell had a job to do and they did it with style and panache and in devastating fashion.

Bridon were no match for them and were bowled out for just 129 and had it not been for Matt Makings (43) it could and would have been even worse. Matt Hall (3 for 18) and Nick Bircumshaw (3 for 8) did most of the damage against a side who looked beaten the moment they took the field.

This target was never going to trouble Glapwell and they raced to victory on 131 for 3 with Rob Davison (33), Iain O’Brien (37 n.o.) and Matt Hall who enjoyed a fine all round match also on 37 n.o. saw them home with plenty to spare.

Finally in Division 1 Cuckney battered Kiveton Park whose wheels seem to have come off at the minute into total submission by an impressive 119 runs. Batting first Cuckney made an excellent 226 for 7 with Richard Bostock (30), Richard Stroh (48) and Gareth Price (31) leading the charge. Richard Spurr (3 for 52) was the pick of the Kiveton attack but this score had a rather imposing look about it.

And so it proved as for the second consecutive week, Kiveton were bowled out for a relatively poor score of 107. None of their batsmen looked comfortable against South African Richard Stroh who is having one hell of a season and took 4 for 44 and Paul Gurnell who captured 5 for 20 with his beautifully flighted slow bowling.

The top of Division 2 saw leaders Anston beaten by seven wickets in a thriller at Blidworth. The home side are capable of beating anyone on their day but are amazingly inconsistent but this was a match they needed to produce their best and they did.

Batting first, Anston looked likely to achieve a total of 250 plus with Dean Brearley (70) and Nigel Staniland (36) in prime form, but an amazing spell by Craig Turton (7 for 41) saw an astonishing collapse and they were all out for 192 which must have been a disappointment after the earlier good work.

In reply Blidworth with the cultured David Mason at his best with 70 good runs roared to victory with style. Andy Watson (35 n.o.) and Dave Willcock (37 n.o.) finished the job off but Anston will rue that they collapsed so spectacularly and that they ran into a Blidworth side performing as everyone knows they are capable of.

Bolsover take over at the top and the way they are playing they look as though they could stay there for the rest of the season. Batting first they amassed an enormous 272 for 4 with Usman Saeed claiming his second century of the season with a brilliant 129 n.o. Also in the frame were Andy Crooks (60) and Andy Rogers (52) as the carnage continued right through to the end of the innings.

In reply Ransome made a spirited effort reaching a respectable 170 for 7 with Joe Smith (59), Tony Betteridge (35) and Brett Richardson (30 n.o.) but at no time did they look like threatening the massive Bolsover total. You can’t keep a class act out of things for long and Usman Saeed with 4 for 46, showed he was as adept with the ball as he is with the bat to complete a fine all round display.

Eckington pulled off another amazing win over luckless and lowly Everton who can be excused for wondering what they have to do to achieve victory. On another Chris Drury ‘master class’ wicket, Everton piled up an astonishing 244 for 3 with John Mimms carrying his bat for a magnificent unbeaten 128 and Mark Anthony being unluckily run out for 76 as the runs flowed from the bat.

However it was not enough as Eckington knocked them off reaching 245 for 6 with James Daniel (92 n.o.) and Mark Bridgman (65) in wonderful touch. This was a belting wicket and a great match contested by two competitive sides. Spare a thought for Everton though; it never goes for you when you are struggling as they found out to their cost in this memorable match.

Pilsley notched up yet another win this time over the struggling Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2nds who are anchored at the foot of the table. Batting first Notts & Arnold, Harvey Burton (55) apart, were totally destroyed by Dave Schofield who bagged 8 for 37 in a magnificent spell of bowling which Notts. & Arnold found impossible to deal with and were all out for just 94 runs!

This target proved no contest as Saeed Bin Nasir raced into gear and with an unbeaten 62 sent Pilsley storming away to an eight wicket success. This side is capable of beating most of the others and many are finding out they are a side who must be respected. Underestimate at your peril and the odds are on you to come out second best.

Whitwell are another inconsistent side and they produced their poorer side as they were savaged by Papplewick and Linby 2nds at The Rookery. Batting first only Alan Draycott with 44 resisted the wiles of Steve Alford who claimed 5 for 40 in a deadly accurate spell of bowling which saw Whitwell dismissed for just 139.

This score meant nothing to the Papplewick side and brutal knocks of 58 n.o. by wicket-keeper Jamie Peat and 35 n.o. from youngster Richard Arberry quickly saw the visitors home by a comfortable seven wicket margin.

North Wheatley with Leverton change places with Farnsfield 2 nd near the foot of division 2 after gaining a winning draw over them at South Wheatley. Batting first North Wheatley reached 208 for 7 with Dave Waller (42) and Nick Purkiss (44) both batting well despite some excellent bowling from Pete Worrall (5 for 41).

This score always looked a few too many for Farnsfield who reached 167 for 6 as the overs ran out. Dave Hodgkin (56) and Mick Hodgkin (42) were the leading run getters but a fine stint from Rob Hackney (3 for 53) kept them in check as North Wheatley gained some much needed points.