Marshalls make impressive start
by Paul Barker, 24th April 2005

After gaining promotion as second division champions last season, the Gainsborough side Marshalls, must have had a feeling of deja-vu when their skipper Kevin Housham decided to quit in the close season. Housham was without doubt one of the best batsmen outside the top division and surely a player who scored 876 runs at an average of 67.38 last season would be missed, wouldn’t he?

Not a bit of it! The brash newcomers battered Worksop to a five wicket defeat at Central Avenue to state their case. Marshalls were mightily impressive as they went about their business and although Richard Grainger (47) and Steve Bentley (34) got Worksop away to an impressive start, Marshalls new Australian import Glen Talarico then showed what a very useful acquisition they have picked up.

Talarico blasted through some flimsy resistance to take 5 for 51 as Worksop collapsed to 159 for 9 as the fifty overs ran out. Still the thoughts persisted however that this score might represent a problem to Marshalls but not a bit of it as Talarico showed his ability with the bat was equal to what he had shown with the ball.

He scored a very impressive 48 and then Mark Davies (41 n.o.) and Chris Needham put together an unbroken stand of 72 to see Marshalls away to a brilliant start which will mean that all the other teams will sit up and take notice. Spare a thought for Worksop’s new skipper Steve Bentley who took all five wickets to fall for 48 runs and added to his 34 runs set a magnificent example to his colleagues. Unfortunately for him his efforts were in vain but the Marshalls team were the talking point in this match and will be looked at in a totally different light from now on.

A staggering performance saw Thoresby Colliery pull off a magnificent six wicket win over fancied Farnsfield at Station Lane . Batting first Farnsfield made a more than useful total of 177 for 8 with Paul Delaney (56) and Dave Tilbury (36) both batting well. However the Thorsby attack stuck to their task very well and Naeem Ahmed who would later make a significant impression with the bat bowled superbly to take 4 for 33 in tandem with Bill Lippeatt whose intelligently flighted slow stuff accounted for a further four wickets at a cost of 69 runs.

A wretched start by Thoresby saw them slump to 50 for 6 and Farnsfield at this point looked as though their position as one of the favourites for this year’s title was fully justified. Cometh the hour, cometh the men is the old phrase that comes to mind however from then on as Steve Willis (69 n.o.) and that man Naeem Ahmed (66 n.o.) both batted absolutely brilliantly as they put on an unbroken stand of 129 to take Thoresby to a magnificent victory. Mark Silcock captured 3 for 43 and did most of the early damage, but this match was all about Thoresby Colliery who showed what a threat they can be with this stunning display.

Cutthorpe who are always a threat slumped to a four wicket defeat at Kiveton Park who showed enough evidence to suggest they will be up with the best when the season ends. The wet conditions meant that a wicket that is arguably the best in the league was far from convincing and a magical spell of bowling from Dean Walker (4 for 6) had Cutthorpe all back inside for just 97.

Not that this was any easy task and Kiveton struggled to reach this modest target but a true captain’s innings from Rob Coxon (33) eventually saw his side home at 98 for 6. Both sides will improve on this and the even more certain thing is the Kiveton wicket will also.

The easiest win of the day came at Edwinstowe were the home side annihilated Notts. & Arnold Amateur by an impressive seven wicket margin. Notts. & Arnold were in decline for most of the second half of last season and on the evidence of this display things look likely to continue. Batting first Notts. & Arnold were bowled out for a pathetic 64 runs, with Edwinstowe skipper John Garnham in prime form with the ball taking 3 for 29.

The target never looked likely to trouble Edwinstowe and particularly Australian Garth Brown who made a cultured unbeaten 42 as his side reached 65 for 3 and victory.

Another new overseas star seems to have been born for Cuckney as Richard Stroh an all rounder from South Africa really looked the part in a crushing five wicket win at Bridon. It was thought that Cuckney would badly miss the Australian Dave Newman that they launched to such good effect on the league last season but on the evidence of this they have a more than adequate replacement.

Bridon were limited to 150 for 9 when the overs ran out with returning Australian Justin Miller making 33, and Darren Spooner 31. Stroh made his presence felt with the ball taking 4 for 58 in an excellent stint of bowling.

The Cuckney reply was dominated by Stroh who batted brilliantly to register an unbeaten 58 as Cuckney coasted to a five wicket win. Spare a thought however for Justin Miller who bagged all five wickets to fall at a cost of 39 runs and along with his batting he hardly deserved to end up on the losing side.

Glapwell who last season made a big impact started well enough with a winning draw against a determined Killamarsh side. Batting first Glapwell made a more than useful 191 for 8 with Dean Graney contributing 52 and New Zealand test star Iain O’Brien 46 n.o. Steve Ludlam was the pick of the Killamarsh attack with the impressive figures of 3 for 38.

Killamarsh then batted time out at 114 for 4 and the match ended in a tame draw with South African Hendrik Basson batting well to remain unbeaten on 35. Matthew Hall with 3 for 20, bowled superbly for Glapwell but they could not make the break-through needed to get amongst the Killamarsh tail.

In Division 2 relegated Blidworth quickly made their mark with a crushing 99 run win over Farnsfield 2nds. Batting first Blidworth reached a strong 211 for 6 with Andy Watson making a superb unbeaten 89 whilst former Blidworth player Pete Wood took 4 for 51 in a fine stint.

Farnsfield were never ‘at the races’ in reply and were dismissed for just 112. Mark Hallam top scored with 38 but nobody had any answers to Craig Turton who picked up five wickets for a minimal 13 runs. On this evidence, Blidworth must have a great chance of moving back up at the end of this season.

The closest match in Division 2 took place at The Rookery at Whitwell with the home side losing by just 2 runs against North Wheatley and Leverton. Batting first North Wheatley were quickly in trouble with Darren Westerby (4 for 29) and Kevin Morton (3 for 26) causing all types of havoc as they struggled to a 46 over total of 123 for 8.

As it turned out this was good enough, just. New Whitwell skipper Alan Draycott did his bit with 30 good runs but the rest of the side struggled badly against James Crooks (3 for 28) and were dismissed for just 121 in a real thriller.

Anston registered an excellent winning draw over relegated Bolsover in a splendid match at Ryton Road . Batting first Anston made 170 all out with a superbly crafted 34 from Jonathan Geary forming the major part of the early batting. Skipper Ian Barley weighed in with an unbeaten 39 to boost the score near the end, but the Bolsover attack of skipper Charlie Walker (3 for 35), Steve Wooley (3 for 41) and Eddie Grant (3 for 44) did a fine job to keep them in check.

The early Bolsover batting was blitzed by the Anston attack but just when the home side thought things couldn’t be easier along came Steve Wooley and Chris Pemberton to show a match is never won till everybody has been bowled out.

Wooley struck the ball mightily to make a fantastic 98 before he was bowled and Pemberton was unbeaten on 33 as Bolsover closed just 16 runs short on 154 but they only had one wicket left. This was a truly great game and the Anston attack of Andrew Ruczenczyn (4 for 42) and Ian Barley (3 for 20) who enjoyed a tremendous all round match can take full credit for the way they stuck to their task.

Ransome & Marles made a good start to the new season with a winning draw over Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2nds. Batting first Ransomes made an impressive 180 for 8 with Joe Smith (41), Matthew Smith (35) leading the charge whilst Mark North (5 for 32) bowled excellently for Notts. & Arnold .

In reply Notts. & Arnold closed out at 149 for 6 to record a draw. Several of their players got started but the tight Ransomes attack with overseas import Brett Richardson (4 for 68) leading the way never let them settle and the result was probably a fair one at the end.

Everton made a return to Division 2 after a one year absence but had to face a strong Eckington side in their first match. Batting first Eckington made a reasonable total of 148 for 7 with Bob Mimms taking 3 for 68 in a good spell of bowling.

This proved to be enough as Everton despite the efforts of Mark Anthony (30) closed out on 125 for 9. Simon West (4 for 39) and Tom Dawson (3 for 23) bowled brilliantly for Eckington who look as though they might be in for another good season.

The final match in Division 2 was a superb encounter between Papplewick & Linby 2nds and Pilsley which the home side won by 32 runs after a titanic struggle. Batting first Papplewick made a very impressive 192 for 8 with Jamie Peat (40), Gareth Wheeldon (30) and Robin Rhodes (30) all making major contributions. Ian Worthy with 3 for 31 was the pick of the Pilsley attack.

Pilsley looked as though they were coasting to victory at 148 for 2 with the sensational Pakistani Saeed Bin Nasir starting where he left off last season by making a sensational 76 and Dave Wright (38) but once these two had gone a major collapse was triggered off and they were all out for 160. Jonathan Thrower (3 for 34) and Cory Navin (3 for 17) were the pick of the Papplewick attack in yet another superb match and a great advert for Bassetlaw League cricket.