Musical chairs continue at the top
by Paul Barker, 29th May 2005

Although the league programme is little over a month old, things are working out very much as we prophesised with Kiveton Park becoming the fourth team in as many weeks to reach the summit of Division 1.

Kiveton cemented their place with an effortless nine wicket win over a lack-lustre Worksop side who quite frankly were never at the races. Only Glenn Pym (34) made any sort of contribution on a wicket which is rightly regarded as one of the best strips in the division and the final total of 177 for 7 was a modest one to say the least.

Richard Spurr with 3 for 42 was the best of a Kiveton attack which performed well collectively, but Worksop will reflect on this rather poor batting display knowing that they could and should have done much better.

To show there were no demons in the wicket, Kiveton literally strolled to victory with Phil Cooper (72 n.o.) and Lee Brooks (79 n.o.) battered the Worksop attack to every part of the ground making stroke play look a simple matter. This was without doubt one of the most one sided matches you are ever likely to see and in this mood Kiveton won’t be far away when the honours are handed out and the same goes for Worksop but their destiny will be at the other end of the table!

Edwinstowe who were top before yesterday and the only side with an unblemished record came to grief in a tremendous match at Farnsfield where the home side showed what they are capable of when they are performing at full capacity.

Batting first Farnsfield piled up the runs with James Bennett (56) and skipper Andy Edwards (43) providing the perfect foil for Paul Delaney who rolled back the years with a magnificent unbeaten 103 as his side made a massive 257 for 4. Several years ago Delaney was just about the most prolific run scorer in the league but these days he seems to make 50s and 60s instead of the centuries that used to flow from his bat.

This was a return to those bygone years and who knows, the talent is still there and this could give Delaney the confidence that is needed for a return to those halcyon days. Don’t back against it! Asif Zakir with 3 for 95 was the pick of the Edwinstowe attack but even he came under some heavy fire from the Farnsfield batsmen.

The target although it looked a huge task was not unsumountable, and Edwinstowe set off as though they would have little difficulty in reaching it. Paul Benson (37) gave the innings the impetus it needed but a great stand between Australian Garth Brown and Paul Peacock put Edwinstowe really in the driving seat.

Just when Brown looked to be on his way to a century he was magnificently caught by Andy Edwards for a superb 93 and this changed the whole complexion of the match. Peacock went for a excellent 48 and the rest simply folded under the pressure and were all out for 215. Kiwi Mark Silcock was chiefly responsible for this with a fantastic spell of bowling taking 7 for 87 and it was his lionhearted performance that gave his side the well earned win they just about deserved.

So Edwinstowe’s reign at the top lasted just one week, but don’t count them out, they have certainly come on in leaps and bounds over the last few seasons and are on the evidence of this a match for anyone. Farnsfield are simply Farnsfield! Playing like this they will beat anyone, but can they keep it going is the leading question? We will have to wait and see!

Thoresby Colliery and Glapwell are two teams on the fringes of things and both look good enough to become involved in the shake up. Batting first Thoresby looked on for a good score as they raced away to 80 for 3 in double quick time but although four players got into the twenties nobody went through with the effort to produce the big score which would have made all the difference.

This was mainly due to the fact that New Zealand test star Iain O’Brien and Matthew Hall bowled supremely well to take 4 for 29 and 3 for 53 respectively and Thoresby were eventually bowled out for a rather disappointing 145.

From this moment the result was never in much doubt as Lee Topham (44), Mohammed Agshad (38) and Matthew Hall who enjoyed a fine all round match (39 n.o.) took control as Glapwell reached 149 for 3 and a seven wicket win.

Cuckney are another side who are just bubbling under the surface and they recorded their third straight win of the campaign with a hard fought 33 run win over lowly Killamarsh.

Batting first, Cuckney made a modest 157 all out with Richard Bostock (46) and Andy Stephenson (48) top scoring. South African Henrik Basson (5 for 85) and Peter Allen (3 for 15) were the pick of the Killamarsh attack who stuck to their task well and did an excellent job for their side.

In reply Killamarsh were all out for 124 with only John Griffith (34) making much impact. Richard Stroh, Cuckney’s South African import continued his excellent run of form taking 4 for 62 and Andy Stephenson who was comfortably the ‘man of the match’ chipped in with an impressive 5 for 25.

It would be foolish for anyone to write off Cuckney whilst Killamarsh are badly in need of that first win to get them going.

Cutthorpe who have been a model of inconsistency this season were right at their very best as they showed promoted Marshalls the stark reality of playing Division 1 cricket in a 158 run demolition at the Recreation Ground. Batting first Cutthorpe blasted a massive 255 for 4 with Arshad Latif top scoring on 70 and other sizable contributions came from Andy Thompson (69), Asadullah Butt (48) and Karl Fields (35 n.o.) as the carnage continued from the first ball of the innings to the last.

It was no better after the break between the innings as Marshalls were all despatched back to the pavilion for a pathetic 97 all out. Only Chris Needham (46 n.o.) applied himself to the job in hand and John McCollum (4 for 24) and Ejaz Khan (3 for 7) sliced though them like a knife through butter to record this huge win.

Cutthorpe will improve even more of that there can be no doubt, but Marshalls on the evidence of this one look to have a long hard season in front of them.

In Division 2 leaders Anston came to grief as they went down to a Papplewick & Linby 2 nd side in top form. Batting first Anston batted quite adequately to reach 189 for 7 with Nigel Staniland leading the way on 64. Steve Alford (3 for 35) was a constant thorn in their side with his accurate medium pacers which left no margin for error.

Although this score looked a good one it was to prove nowhere near enough as Papplewick drove straight into top gear scoring 190 for the loss of five wickets and taking a memorable win. The chief protagonist was Jamie Peat who batted brilliantly in making an unbeaten 101 and Neil Birch (32) as Papplewick cruised to a great win. Anston must have been shell shocked by this defeat but there can be no doubting that whenever Papplewick are in this type of form they are a match for anyone.

Second placed Blidworth fared little better and were beaten by Whitwell with three wickets to spare inwhat constituted the ‘shock of the day!’ Batting first Blidworth were bowled out for just 158 with Matt Slade (52) and Andy Watson (32) being the only batsmen to cope with Darren Westerby (4 for 30) who bowled extremely tidily.

In reply everyone knew it was going to happen and Blidworth were the unlucky recipients as Alan Draycott at last moved into the form everyone knew he was capable of. Draycott smashed a brilliant 72 and although Andy Watson completed a fine all round match by taking 3 for 20, Whitwell were always in command and ran out winners on 160 for 7.

Bolsover simply brushed North Wheatley with Leverton aside with consummate ease to win by 129 runs. Batting first Bolsover piled up a massive 236 for 5 with Mark Bull making 54 and Pakistani import Usman Saeed a sensational 119.

Things got no better for North Wheatley as they collapsed quickly to 107 all out with Steve Wooley (3 for 26) and that man Usman Saeed who is proving a worthy successor to Tariq Rashid taking 5 for 32 in a magnificent virtuoso display. Bolsover have now moved to within two points of Blidworth and have a game in hand and in this type of form they are going to be an extremely difficult side to stop.

Ransome and Marles are right back to their inconsistent ways and were hammered by Eckington who came back to form with a bang at Staveley Lane . Batting first Ransomes were dismissed for just 157 with Nigel Murray (57) and Gary Lambert (43) scoring 100 of these between them. The only problem was that the rest contributed virtually nothing as Dave Barton (6 for 53) and Simon West (4 for 63) simply sliced through some non existent resistance to put Eckington right on top.

This mood continued and James Daniel (54 n.o.) guided Eckington to an easy six wicket win as Ransome failed to cope with the situation. Both these sides are capable of being close to the top at the end of the season, but they do have numerous off days between them which will hamper their progress.

Pilsley completed a good winning draw over Farnsfield 2 nd at Barlow Hill with quite a bit to spare. Batting first Pilsley made a very useful 204 for 4 with Andy Keighley batting all the way through for a dogged unbeaten 91. Saeed Bin Nasir lifted the tempo with his 55 whilst Pete Wood (3 for 77) was the best of the Farnsfield attack.

In reply Farnsfield settled for a draw at 144 for 7 with Gary Peck (36) and Graham Bramley (35 n.o.) being the players in form. Michael Thompson was the best Pilsley bowler with 3 for 50, but they couldn’t break into the late order and had to be content with a useful 17 points.

Lowly Everton collapsed to another defeat against Notts. & Arnold 2 nd by seven wickets at the Metcalf Ground. From the moment Everton were dismissed for just 126 their cause was hopeless and had it not been for a good innings of 41 by John Mimms the damage could have been much worse. Richard Pallisetr (6 for 49) did the bulk of the damage and the target set never troubled Notts. & Arnold as Aly Allcock (84 n.o.) blasted them to victory in double quick time to gain maximum points.