Another success for Mansfield League
by Paul Barker, 2nd August 2005

The spectacular run of the Mansfield and District Sunday League continued at Langwith Road , Cuckney on Sunday when they put out fellow compatriots the Bassetlaw and District League from the Cecil Rhoades Trophy by a comfortable 54 runs.

The Mansfield League are making quite a habit of upsetting the previous winners this season as they had put out the Durham Senior County League at Gateshead in the previous round and that combination and the Bassetlaw League had both won the competition of four occasions since its inception in 1969.

What was even more gratifying for the Mansfield side was that the team’s average age was only around the 20 years mark and must argue well for the future of the league. They now take on the Derbyshire County League in the semi-final.

Glenn Pym the Bassetlaw skipper won the toss and inserted Mansfield in to bat and this move paid instant dividends when Cuckney’s Andy Stephenson had the dangerous Adam Burgess caught behind without troubling the scorers in the second over.

A solid partnership of fifty between Will Butler (47) and the seventeen year old Tom Bullimore (18) added substance to the innings and the running between the wickets was exceptional throughout this partnership. Bridon’s ‘Percy’ Hurst used all the guile he is renowned for and bowled Bullimore and later had Butler stumped as the batsman attempted to accelerate the score along.

Steve Dakin of Newstead Abbey and Chris Briggs of Underwood then added what was possibly the match winning partnership scoring 72 from the next twelve overs and it took the return of Andy Stephenson to break the partnership when he had Dakin caught by Hurst for a fine 31.

There was to be no respite for the Bassetlaw side however as Dave Willcock (29) of Blidworth joined Briggs and they smashed a further 51 runs from just five overs. Briggs was the outstanding performer of the innings however and made an excellent 58 before perishing. The Bassetlaw League came back strongly towards the end and Steve Bentley (4 for 46) and Glenn Pym (2 for 9) saw the Mansfield League all out for 219 in the 44 th over. This was quite a recovery as they had looked set for a 250 score line with ten overs to go.

Nigel Burkitt and Martin Cheshire who had put together a trail blazing stand of 178 on the previous day quickly found that they could be nowhere near as adventurous against the Newstead bowler Nick Hand (2 for 21) and the 18 year old off spinner from Welbeck, Jonathan Ball who although not taking a wicket bowled his ten overs for just 21 runs, a quite remarkable feat!

Burkitt was dismissed by Hand who had him caught behind by David Hunt and then the major wicket of Cheshire (21) was taken as he was smartly pouched at square leg by Tom Bullimore. The Bassetlaw side were well and truly being tied down by their opponents and the scoring rate was cascading upwards at an alarming rate and certainly giving the side cause for concern.

The Worksop pair of Stuart Robson (30) and Steve Bentley (23) gave them a glimmer of hope as they added 55 runs in just eight overs but it was a case of too little, too late as Chris Briggs (2 for 10) removed both of them in quick succession.

The Bassetlaw side ended on 165 for 9 giving the Mansfield League a deserved success by 54 runs. Sherwood’s Will Butler was appointed man of the match for his 47 runs and 1 for 29 in what was a memorable victory for his side.

 At Langwith Road , Cuckney: MANSFIELD & DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE 219 all out (Will Butler 47, Chris Briggs 58, Steve Dakin 31, Steve Bentley 4 for 46) beat BASSETLAW & DISTRICT LEAGUE 165 for 9 (Simon Robson 30) by 54 runs.

Read the match report from the Mansfield League