Cheshire century big boost for Thoresby's title hopes
by Paul Barker, 30th August 2005

A brilliant unbeaten 114 by Thoresby Colliery skipper Martin Cheshire gave his side a huge boost in the quest for the title at Fourth Avenue on Monday. Opponents Marshalls were totally outplayed and outclassed by a very confident side who are beginning to look like champions although there is still work to do.

Depending on which side you were involved with one side got away to a flyer whilst the other had reason for dismay as Shailesh Patel’s first ball of the match thundered off Paul Van den Heuvel’s bat into the base of the stumps and Thoresby were in ecstasy.

Worse was to follow for Marshalls and after James Deacon had survived a massive appeal for l.b.w., Patel struck again in the third over bowling Chris Hearn neck and crop to leave Marshalls in the precarious position of 4 for 2.

Needing a solid stand, Marshalls found just the pair in Deacon and their Australian skipper Tim Down who steadied the ship before the former fell l.b.w. to Bill Lippeatt for a well crafted 31 runs. When Tim Down was bowled by Steve Willis for 33, the writing was on the wall but some lusty blows from Chris Needham (34) and Lee Bembridge (31) saw them reach 167 for 9 when the overs ran out.

Shailesh Patel as he had been on Saturday was the pick of a good Thoresby attack taking 4 for 36 and Steve Willis, Billy Lippeatt and Naeem Ahmed shared the rest of the wickets between them.

Marshalls certainly needed as good a start as Thoresby had had, but it was quickly evident that they were not going to get it. Whilst Nigel Burkitt was prepared to play the sheet anchor role, Cheshire was quickly away in his usual elegant manner stroking the ball to the boundaries with relative ease and treating the Marshalls attack with total disdain. It was all too easy and Thoresby reached their objective with 14 overs to spare only losing Burkitt in the process for a solid 20 runs.

Farook Aziz was unbeaten on 21, but the day certainly belonged to Martin Cheshire who struck 16 fours in a masterly display which few in the league are capable of equalling never mind bettering. All the Marshalls attack were put to the sword and it was evident long before the end that there was only going to be one winner in what can only be described as a rather one sided match.

Thoresby are now 16 points clear of Glapwell with two matches left and should they win on Saturday against Notts. & Arnold it would be very difficult for anyone to catch them. At the other end of the table the gap between Marshalls and bottom club Bridon is now only four points and it would seem a battle royal is on the cards when they meet each other at Ordsall on the final day of the season.

Edwinstowe who were still very much in the running are now virtually out of things after suffering a shock four wicket defeat at Cuckney who have been having a torrid time of late. Batting first Edwinstowe made what looked a fairly useful score of 188 for 9 when the overs ran out with Pakistani star Asif Zakir making 88 but he suffered from a chronic lack of support from the rest of the batting.

The precocious talent of Cuckney’s young slow bowler Tom Ullyott (4 for 54) allied to the expertise of off spinner Paul Gurnell (3 for 36) was the reason for Edwinstowe’s problems but it still looked a reasonable total considering Cuckney’s batting frailties of late.

This was not the case this time however, and Cuckney moved out of the blocks with real confidence and Simon Shipp (61) and Daniel Brown (62) added 125 for the first wicket to put their side totally in the box seat. From this point on there was only going to be one winner and that was Cuckney who moved serenely on to 191 for 6 and a very comfortable victory against a side who until this day still had realistic hopes of lifting the title.

Kiveton Park after recording their first win in ages on Saturday followed it up with another one against Notts. & Arnold Amateur by 42 runs at Goosedale Sports Club. Batting first, Kiveton showed something like their true form with Australian Peter Coleborne (67), Andy Marsh (47) and Lee Brooks (59) all batting well. Gareth Chapple (3 for 72) bowled very well for Notts. & Arnold and thoroughly deserved his successes.

In reply, Notts. & Arnold made a good effort with David Evans (30), Leigh Baldry (48) and Danny Nicholls (42) all chipping in with useful contributions. It must have been rather annoying to these three that the other eight only managed 57 runs between them as Notts. & Arnold were blown away for 177 with slow bowlers Coleborne (3 for 43) and Lee Brooks (4 for 36) doing most of the damage as Kiveton put together an excellent team performance.

Farnsfield and bottom club Bridon were involved in a very good match at Station Lane and although they were defeated the Retford side could take some comfort from the all out efforts that their players put in, in this match.

Batting first, Bridon amassed a very creditable 223 for 9 when the fifty overs ran out with Darren Spooner (72) and Rob McLeod (44) batting quite superbly. Mark Silcock again fronted the Farnsfield attack and did a fine job picking up 3 for 54 in the process.

It was not to be though as Farnsfield did what they have done many times this season and that is batted extremely well. Paul Delaney (41) and Tom Corbyn (30) both batted superbly but the real star of the show was skipper Andy Edwards who crashed a magnificent 91 with shots to all parts of the ground as Farnsfield reached 224 for 5 and a five wicket win.

Farnsfield who looked as though this was going to be their season have once again fallen just short. It is obvious that they lack another penetrative bowler to provide support for Silcock and if they can find one in the close season they should be a massive threat to everyone next year.

Bridon have struggled all season, but they certainly do have an escape route, and a lot of nervous energy will be the under current in both there’s and Marshalls camps over the next fortnight. It isn’t easy to judge what will happen and everything is still there to play for.

Cutthorpe easily saw off the challenge of Worksop to win by seven wickets at Central Avenue . Batting first, Worksop found scoring runs a mammoth chore against a very tidy attack and only Tim Ward (39) and Glenn Pym (30) made much headway for them. The final total of 147 for 6 represented a far from confident approach and Cutthorpe must have been positively ‘glowing’ at the half way stage.

Nothing changed to alter that feeling in the second period as Cutthorpe with Nigel Kingham (86 n.o.) in particular easily seeing his side home to what was as comfortable a win as they are likely to get. Worksop have dropped right back into the form that saw them struggling at the bottom for much of the season, before a mini-revival occurred. This is now well and truly over and they are struggling rather badly once again.

In Division 2 the question has been for some time now ‘who goes up with Bolsover?’ and this situation drew more to a conclusion at Everton’s Metcalf Ground where Ransome & Marles clocked up a maximum points haul which leaves them twenty points clear of Blidworth in second place. This will take a lot of overcoming at this stage of the season and if the Newark side hold there nerves together they should be playing Division 1 cricket in 2006.

Everton who had run Bolsover so very close on Saturday where simply no match for Ransomes. John Mimms again batted superbly for the second time this weekend but apart from his 38, nobody else in the Everton line-up looked like conquering the Ransomes attack in which Australian Brett Richardson bowled quite brilliantly to take 8 for 59 as Everton were bowled out for just 132.

This was never going to be enough and although they lost two wickets, Nigel Murray (38 n.o.) and Tony Betteridge (60 n.o.) saw them cruise home by eight wickets. One more win from their remaining two matches should do it now for Ransomes and after the incredible run of form they have had, nobody could say that they don’t deserve it. Everton now look just about safe at the bottom and this excellent club deserve another chance to re-group and show what they can do in 2006.

Papplewick & Linby 2 nd continued their wonderful run up the table and had they started it earlier they would have been a threat to all comers. Their latest victims in a winning draw situation was Anston who were holding on desperately at the close. Batting first Papplewick were well served by Graham Roberts (32), Matt Dear (36) and Robin Rhodes (44) as they battled their way to 202 for 7 with Anston skipper Ian Barley bowling his usual good line and taking 5 for 39 from a superb spell.

This was always going to be too many for this Anston side who looked good enough for promotion for two thirds of the season but have dropped away alarmingly towards the end. They ended up on 125 for 9 despite good efforts from Michael Norbury (42) and Ian Barley (31 n.o.) and Papplewick added a further eighteen points to their ever growing total.. Luke Fletcher was the best of the Papplewick attack taking 4 for 20 in a fine but fruitless effort to gain his side full points.

The final nail in the coffin for Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2 nd looks to be firmly nailed down as North Wheatley with Leverton produced their best batting display of the season to clinch an eight wicket win at South Wheatley. Batting first Notts. & Arnold reached a very useful 192 for 6 with Greg Martin making a magnificent unbeaten 108 and Harvinder Bhaker (36) adding great support.

Even this total was not enough however as Dave Waller (69) and Wayne Harrison (57) showed their very best form to take North Wheatley to a comfortable eight wicket win and comparative safety from any relegation problems.