Cuckney bounce to the top
by Paul Barker, 26th June 2005

A tiny village club which has been totally transformed over the last ten years are the latest occupants of top spot in the Bassetlaw League after a dramatic win over Farnsfield on Saturday. It has certainly all happened for Cuckney over the last few seasons with a superb new pavilion and a splendid indoor cricket school now built on their ground which quite frankly nobody could have envisaged.

One would have expected better from Farnsfield whose batting line-up looks on paper to be as strong if not stronger than any other side in the league, but on the day Cuckney were not to be denied in a thrilling finish which saw them victorious by just 12 runs in a low scoring match.

Batting first Cuckney must have feared the worst as they could only muster an all out total of 140. Simon Shipp with an invaluable 50 top scored but Mark Silcock (3 for 34) and Phil Creswell (4 for 12) bowled accurately and intelligently to good effect.

One would have thought this score wouldn’t have been enough but only Graham Bramley (32) made any headway against the superb South African Richard Stroh who picked up another five wickets at a cost of 65 runs and off spinner Paul Gurnell who claimed 3 for 14 as Farnsfield tumbled to 128 all out.

Someone has to finish the season as champions but at the present moment at half way through the campaign four sides have held the top spot. It is quite possible that another three could do so before the end of the campaign in this most open of seasons.

On a day that resembled the month of October rather than mid summer, Glapwell moved up into second place overtaking Thoresby Colliery who they took a winning draw from at Fourth Avenue . After being inserted to bat, Glapwell got away to a great start with Lee Topham and Dean Graney adding 62 before the latter was needlessly run out.

Topham went on to make an excellent 49, but his wicket and another quick one suggested Thoresby were right back in the game. An important stand then took place between Matt Hall (44) and Rob Davison who made a magnificent unbeaten 103 as Glapwell piled up the runs to close on 240 for 7 as the overs ran out. Bill Lippeatt (3 for 58) did extremely well to grip the wet ball and maintain a tight control with his finger spin.

The Thoresby innings was all about New Zealand star Iain O’Brien who bowled a magical seventeen over spell to take 6 for 15 with three of his victims coming from superbly disguised ‘slower’ balls. Thoresby held out well however with Naeed Ahmed making 34 at a vital time and the innings closed on 132 for 7. Glapwell are now in second place and are another side who are looking a rather potent force.

Edwinstowe came back to form with a winning draw over Bridon at Ordsall after a good all round showing. Batting first, Edwinstowe reached a rather imposing 237 for 8 with Pakistani import Asif Zakir contributing a brilliant 127 runs in a spectacular knock which lit up the whole innings. Bridon’s Australian pace bowler Justin Miller stuck to his task well and took 6 for 86 in a very good spell of bowling.

Needing a good start, Bridon got away to a disastrous one and at one stage stood at 41 for 7 with Edwinstowe on the brink of victory. At this stage when one considers that Simon Fenwick had made 21 it definitely said little for the rest but a stout unbroken partnership between Simon Bingham (17 n.o.) and the guy who has Bridon written through him like a stick of rock, Gareth Jones (19 n.o.) steered their side to 83 for 7 and a rather unlikely draw.

Kiveton Park must be the strangest side in Division 1 and for any tipster they must be an absolute nightmare. Last week in a thriller they beat Notts. & Arnold in a match where 550 runs were scored whilst this week they succumbed to lowly Marshalls after a dismal display which saw them get exactly what they deserved, nothing!

Batting first Kiveton could only make a very modest 140 and when one considers that Ashley Rhodes made 49, and skipper Rob Coxon 55 it says very little about the rest. Australian Tim Down helped himself to 4 for 26 and Chris Hearn was virtually unplayable with 3 for 7.

Marshalls then proceeded to show there was nothing amiss with the wicket knocking off the runs with the minimum of effort for the loss of just two wickets. Paul Van den Heuvel (38) and James Deacon who batted brilliantly to make 88 steered their side to victory and they are now creeping quite successfully away from the danger zone. Any more performances like this one and they should have little to fear.

Cutthorpe’s excellent all rounder Asadullah Butt had a measured effect on his side’s victory over Killamarsh. Butt took 5 for 71 as Killamarsh were limited to just 165 for 8 with Dave Allen top scoring on 38 in a patient well crafted knock.

In reply Cutthorpe knocked off the required runs for the loss of just four wickets. Andy Thompson (30), Tim Barlow (55) and that man Butt (51 n.o.) were the batsmen in form as Cutthorpe totalled 166 for 4 and victory.

Although Killamarsh are struggling, Cutthorpe will be pleased to have recorded victory in this encounter after several disastrous results against this side in the last few years. Cutthorpe are still steadily climbing the league and it would be foolish to count them out with 50% of the season still to go.

With Anston having a day off, leaders Bolsover took the chance to go 23 points clear at the top of Division 2 as they easily accounted for Eckington who have been in excellent form of late. Batting first Bolsover again posted a good score making 201 for 8 with Usman Saeed (32) and Steve Wooley (56) being the top scorers. James Daniel is another player who seems to register in the news every week and once again he picked up 3 for 66 in a fine spell of bowling.

Eckington’s usual strength is with the bat and Bolsover must have wondered if they had scored enough, but as it turned out it was plenty. They were all back inside for just 118 giving Bolsover the win with 83 runs to spare. Usman Saeed who has proved to be a tremendous replacement for Tariq Rashid took 5 for 12 in a terrific spell and Bolsover look on course for the title even at this early stage.

Blidworth move back into second place after a narrow four wicket win over North Wheatley with Leverton. Batting first North Wheatley failed dismally, reaching 145 for 9 with Peter Robinson top scoring on 35 and Craig Turton being the most productive bowler with 4 for 45.

This score was never likely to be enough with only one good partnership needed and Blidworth got that from their prolific run getter David Mason who hammered a terrific 61 and Craig Turton who completed a great all round display being unbeaten on 40. James Butler with 3 for 39 was the best of the North Wheatley attack but they were about 50 runs short of a total which was defendable.

Pilsley inflicted another defeat on Papplewick and Linby 2 nd thanks to the efforts of the sensational Saeed Bin Nasir who simply goes from strength to strength. Batting first Papplewick were well served by Paul Chapman (73), Nazrim Sookram (33) and Ian Hardy who made a superb unbeaten 50 as they closed on 188 for 7. Dave Schofield bowled economically and unchanged and his figures of 4 for 93 were well deserved.

The reply was absolutely staggering as Pilsley slumped to 91 for 8 and were virtually up the creek without a paddle. However as Michael Thompson strode out to the crease, Saeed was not out at the other end but this was too much for him, surely! It wasn’t as he showed every stroke in his armoury. When the field was in he hit over the top and when they were all out on the boundary he placed it so well that he and Thompson managed two runs almost every time.

He farmed the bowling brilliantly and as the stand reached exactly 100 and Pilsley won the match Saeed was incredibly still there with 153 n.o. Michael Thompson only scored 9 n.o. but must also be congratulated for providing Saeed with the partner he needed and deserved and his value in the stand must not be underestimated.

However Saeed is the name on everyone’s lips and people will be talking about him and not for the first time. This guy is sheer quality through and through and every other side in the league would like him in their ranks. Anyone who calls Pilsley must be jealous that they have this master class performer in their ranks. There are several others who would like him, of that there can be no doubt, he is simply the best!

Ransome and Marles seem to have got over their run of bad form at last and they crushed bottom side Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2 nd by 109 runs at Elm Avenue . Batting first Ransomes made a useful looking 198 for 3 with Nigel Murray scoring a superb unbeaten 100 and Joe Smith adding 39 as they totalled 198 for 3 against a willing but outgunned attack.

The reply never really got off the ground as Notts. & Arnold were dismissed for just 89 runs! Ransomes skipper Gary Lambert led the rout with 3 for 21 and he was ably supported by Australian Brett Richardson who took 5 for 44 in a good spell. Ransomes should have been pressing the leaders and probably can come with a surge, but they performed similarly last season and one wonders if they can recover the leeway they have lost.

Whitwell did their position a power of good as they beat the side one place below them, Farnsfield 2 nd by six wickets at the Rookery. Batting first Farnsfield made a rather unsatisfactory 149 all out with Gary Peck (56) and Dave Tilbury (34) saving them from a complete rout. Nathan Morris (5 for 58) and Kevin Morton (4 for 28) did the damage as Farnsfield were left to reflect on ‘not a good day at the office’.

Whitwell had no trouble knocking off the runs with skipper Alan Draycott (53) and Dave Standen (53 n.o.) both sharing the honours in a good performance which has given them some breathing space in their efforts to survive.