Ishan the man
by SNCL Press Team, 8th September 2005

Balderton’s Ishan Ratnayake’s one man demolition job was enough to save his side from the drop and condemn Southwell to relegation from Division A on the final weekend of the 2005 Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League season. The Sri Lankan pace ace destroyed opponents Ellerslie’s top order and returned figures of 7 for 29 from his 14 over blast. Ellerslie mustered only 96 and Balderton cruised home by 8 wickets with Peter Lambert hitting 55 not out.

That meant Southwell needed to win their last game at Attenborough to stay up, Attenborough (219/8) were themselves needing points to secure runners-up spot, so Southwell (133) were always up against it and the writing was on the wall once Sam Clulow (77) and Martin Raynor (5/21) got into their stride. So Southwell suffer their second successive relegation even though they had a reasonably healthy points average of 11.33. A bad season for Southwell was completed by their seconds’ relegation from Division D.

Elsewhere, a brisk 115* (85 balls) by Calverton’s Derek Pickering dwarfed Rolls-Royce Leisure’s total of 189. Pickering and Peter Crawley knocked off the target inside 30 overs and the 10 wicket thrashing means Rolls-Royce will join Gotham Village and Southwell in Division B next season whilst Calverton finish 3 rd in their first season back in the SNCL.

4 th place went to Plumtree who secured it with a huge winning-draw against relegated Gotham . Batting first Plumtree amassed 363/5 in their allotted 48 overs and registered an unprecedented 5 fifties. Darren Wright (81) , Edward Woodcock (63), Mark Oldham (61), A.J. Robinson (54*), Mark Whitehead (52) all heading for the jugathon at the pub that night. All those knocks were eclipsed though by Gotham ’s Gary Kerlake’s 103 but it was never close (203/6).

The main issue to be settled in Division B was who was to join champions Bottesford in the top flight next season and there was no surprises as Radcliffe-On-Trent beat Plumtree II (241/7), reaching the finish line in just 38 overs thanks mainly to 113 by Jamie Tunnicliffe. As a result, Plumtree II’s relegation is confirmed. Gedling & Sherwood miss out on promotion, their defeat by Newstead Abbey & Village last week proving very costly as their win against relegated Belvoir wasn’t enough. John Moulton’s 101 not out and Paul ‘Macca’ McMillan with 6 for 61 starred for G & S.

Likewise in Division C there were no shocks as pole positioned Kimberley Institute II won away at already relegated Thurgarton (109) by 5 wickets to secure the second promotion place ahead of Keyworth who lost at Nottingham , who survive relegation after the win. Russ Kirk with 5/24 swung it for Kimberley whilst teenager Will Higson (49*) carried his bat for Thurgarton. With Nottingham winning, the final relegation spot went to Wilsons (108) who went down limply against a youthful Hucknall side (109/2). 17 year-old Tom Evans took a hat-trick in his 5fer and Scott Harris (also 17) top scored in the game with 45.

The last day fixtures in Division D appetisingly lined-up four ’40 pointers’. The championship had prematurely and wrongly been bestowed upon leaders Attenborough II the previous week and the celebratory hangovers seemed to be having an effect as they lined up against the second placed side West Indian Caribs who were going all out for the actual 15 point winning margin needed to secure them the title. Alas it wasn’t to be as Caribs (151), though dominant throughout, couldn’t quite get to the 158 mark for the extra batting point that would have sealed it, despite 45 from Clifton Williams. Knowing this canny Attenborough (79) enjoyed another grand day out as they limped to a second successive championship (in a week) but this time for real and by the narrowest of margins – 1 point.

At the other end it was all to play for as six sides could still mathematically fill the bottom three relegation places. Risley (215) looking already doomed lost to rivals Lady Bay Boots (217/6) thanks to in-form Asalan Shah (76); Boots stay up and send Risley down. Lady Bay Boots’ win also condemned Southwell II (125/5) and Wollaton II (123) to relegation, rendering the result from their match meaningless.

Stanton-By-Dale ’s match against Hickling featured one of the finishes of the season. Stanton (233/6) set Hickling 234 in 45 overs and reduced them to 164 for 7 and then Hickling were 184 for 7 off 42 needing an unlikely 50 off the last three overs. Enter all-rounder Peter Playle who played one of the innings of the season to win it for Hickling, bludgeoning one of the fastest fifties of the year (22 balls), ably supported by Jamie Vickers (31*), the pair somehow steered Hickling home putting on an unbeaten 71 for the 8 th wicket. Even 25 off the last over wasn’t a problem for Playle as he ‘caressed’ 26 for a memorable win.

In E, already relegated Wymeswold pulled off a shock win against top team Long Eaton II. Wymeswold put on 258/6 thanks to Andrew Shelton (50), Richard Shelton (56) and Richard Bowley (69*). Long Eaton’s Mark Hollingsworth (113*) and Ben Middleton (50) led the response but the overs ran out 19 runs short. In F, the promotion places had been decided a week ago, with Calverton II and Underwood heading for Division E next season. Underwood had no game this week but Calverton (144/4) finished with another win as Matt Rankin (4/28) helped bowl out Ravenshead for 142, despite 67 from Andrew Tadd.

Notts Unity Casuals pulled themselves out of the relegation places and sent Gedling & Sherwood II down. G&S made 150/8 and Unity overhauled the score without losing any wickets, Alan Haycock finishing on 96* and Mark Taylor on 41*. Bottom team Toton Sycamore put up a good fight in a high scoring match at Eastwood Town II. Eastwood racked up 243/9, with 50 from Matt Buckley and 63 from Alan Hill. Sycamore started steadily with the top four batsmen all making more than 35; the best two being Dennis Wright (45) and Nick Wadlow (40). Ian Day, who had earlier taken 3/33 off 12, blasted 24 from 8 balls before unfortunately being run out and effectively finishing Sycamore’s chance of reaching the total. Sycamore ended on 223/8.

Ellerslie II made sure of the championship of division G by racking up 260/5 against 3 rd placed Caythorpe III (169). Star performers were Danny Footitt (111*) and Danny Hammond (4/53) for Ellerslie and John Kneale (59) for Caythorpe. Relegated Bestwood Village (123) lost again as Lowdham’s Jim Blacknall (6/21) ripped through their batting order. In H, Edingley (159/8) pulled off an 18 point win over Rainworth Welfare (92) but it was not enough to save them from the drop as nearest rivals Cotgrave also won, beating Nottingham II (159) by 8 wickets.

In Division J, Oxton fell at the final hurdle in their promotion quest following a 25 run defeat at fourth placed Gladstone (161), the consistent Michael Berry’s contribution of 40 and 4/45 proving to be in vain. Oxton’s defeat meant celebrations at Kirkby who thrashed Newark II (90) by 119 runs, Rob Britten (60) and Dan Severn (4/10) with the game winning performances. Congratulations also go to Caunton who have won their final two games to stay up, the latest one being a nail biting one wicket success at home to mid table Stapleford, Malcolm Hawley the hero with an unbeaten 49.

Elsewhere in J, Hoveringham cruised past relegated Stanton by Dale’s target of 150 with seven wickets to spare, Stuart Walton’s unbeaten 55 took him past the 800 run mark for the season whilst Rashid Akhtar’s incredible run of form with the ball continued with a further four wickets. Relgated Risley scraped past mid-table Loughborough Carillion II (117) off the final delivery with one wicket remaining.

Promotion issues in Division K had already been settled so all eyes turned to the bottom and Attenborough III were victorious off the final ball of the game at home to Carrington Cavaliers (128/8) ensuring their survival as Nottingham Victoria’s poor recent run of form resulted in relegation, collapsing to 59 all out at home to promoted Sutton Bonington. Victoria are joined in L next year by Woodborough who picked up 17 points as third placed Lenton Abbey failed to raise a side. In the division’s outstanding fixture, champions Newstead Village squeezed past Belvoir (148) with one wicket remaining thanks mainly to skipper Mick Crossland who struck 66, sixteen year old Richard Flower Junior took 5/33 for the losers.

In Division L, Bingham are celebrating their second successive championship after an eight wicket thrashing of Kimberley III (83), Pete Walton taking 5/11, West Bridgfordians II’s superb end of season run culminated in them joining Bingham in K in 2006 following a seven wicket victory at home to Thrumpton II (134), Alex Sills top scoring with 61. Elsewhere it was heartbreak for Stoke Bardolph who after two straight defeats, miss out on promotion in third. Their latest reversal came at Belton who were successful in defending a modest 123, James Mark and Tom Orrell taking three wickets each. Breaston (251/6) ended the season on a high with a comfortable 129 run success over relegated Shepshed III, whilst at last there is something to smile about for bottom club Old Paviors II who were 38 run victors over mid table Flintham (150), Phil Cranfield striking 59 for the winners.

Division R saw Champions Lowdham travel to Toton Sycamore II who required 5 points for runners up. Toton batting first scored 178, a poor effort having been 150/3 with overs to spare but with Lowdham being bowled out 50 runs short the victory and 19 points gave Sycamore II the promotion they had worked hard for all season.

On Sunday the final of the Raleigh cup was held at Notts Unity Casuals. Having won the toss Stanton Awsworth Elks, in their first year as a club, elected to bat against Division E rivals Gedling Colliery II. Richard Barnes (38) and 19yr old Jake Keetley 47* got Stanton off to a good start but with only Scott Law (45) making a further contribution they finished on a modest 209/9. Chris White 3/47 and Matt McBride 2/42 the pick of Gedling’s bowlers. In reply Gedling’s batsmen all got going but then got out without making that match winning innings. However they stayed up with the run rate and completed the task with 11 balls and 5 wickets to spare. Jake Keetley was named man of the match after his 47* and 9 overs for 32 runs.

This Sunday sees Eastwood Town, (cup holders) take on Plumtree (winners in 2000 & 01) at Eastwood in the Popkess Cup final 12 noon start.