Eastwood stars destroy leaders Calverton
by SNCL Press Team, 8th August 2005

Two brilliant performances by Ijaz Ahmed and Ikram Ul-Haq helped Eastwood Town blow away league leaders Calverton in Division A of the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League. Batting first, fourth placed Eastwood Town set a victory target of 214 after Ijaz Ahmed blasted a sensational 120 for the hosts. Calverton’s reply never got going thanks to the bowling of Eastwood’s Ikram Ul-Haq who took 6 for 33 as Calverton were bowled out for 121.

Long Eaton capitalised on Calverton’s defeat to set up an enthralling finale to the season. Andy Edge’s 59 not out saw Long Eaton (151/3) comfortably home at bottom side Gotham Village (149). Ellerslie registered an impressive victory over third placed Attenborough. Eddie Pidduck’s 5fer meant Ellerslie were chasing 160 to win and an explosive 91 by Samrat Sharma duly shrunk the target so Ellerslie won easily by 7 wickets.

In the relegation battle at Hucknall, Rolls-Royce (188/5) came out on top against Balderton (187/8) with Saleem Karim (4/49), Gordon Pearson (60) and Leon Botha (49) starring for the home side. Tim Clipsham’s 82 for Balderton proved to be in vain. Elsewhere Rob Tapp’s 66 helped Plumtree (198/9) ease their relegation fears with a 72 run victory at Southwell (127) despite 6 for 69 from Southwell’s South African pro Jacques Oberhalzer.

In B, leaders Bottesford go marching on towards promotion after gaining a comprehensive winning-draw against Plumtree II. After amassing 288 for 1 from their 48 overs (Simon Clarricoates 127 not out, Anthony Abelwhite 82, Dave Allen 62 not out), Jim Ward (4 for 33) helped restrict the hosts to 196 for 8.

The chasing twosome of Radcliffe-On-Trent and Gedling & Sherwood both won after achieving impressive 7 wicket away victories at fifth placed Newstead Abbey & Village and fourth placed Loughborough respectively. Bramcote (154/6) eased their relegation fears with a 73 run victory at struggling Newark (81).

West Bridgfordians enhanced their title credentials after winning the battle of the top 2 in C. Samit Sundaresan’s 59 top scored in their innings setting second-placed Hucknall 184 to win but they were bowled out for 112 after Jon Sheard ripped the heart out their batting with 6 for 42 to keep West Bridgfordians on top.

Third-paced Keyworth are very much in the hunt for promotion after making short work of fifth placed Thrumpton. Thrumpton were skittled for just 52 with Stuart Meek (3/9), Ian Graham (3/10) and Dave Hiller (3/22) all returning impressive figures. Keyworth knocked off the runs inside 6 overs to complete a 9 wicket demolition. At the bottom end of the table Ben McMurdo’s century meant Thurgarton (238/5) got the better of Radcliffe-On-Trent II (203/8 Ian Noblet 81) in the battle of the bottom two. Radcliffe seem doomed but Thurgarton’s hopes of avoiding the drop improved with this winning-draw.

It’s increasingly looking like Attenborough will end up champions in Division D after they thrashed third placed Stanton-By-Dale and fading challengers West Indian Caribbeans lost at fourth placed Old Paviors. Attenborough won convincingly by 8 wickets after skittling Stanton-By-Dale for just 71 thanks to Bryan Aplin (6/12) whilst 87 not out by Brian Baptiste for Caribs (234/6) proved not to be enough as half-centuries by Mark Fish and Gareth Reece meant Old Paviors (235/4) reached their target with three overs to spare.

In Division E, Stanton & Awsworth Elks dropped out of the promotion places after suffering defeat to Wymeswold in a hard fought game. Batting first, the Elks put on 216/5, with contributions of 65 from Tom Smith and 45 from Richard Barnes. When they had Wymeswold on 11/3, the Elks must have been confident of victory. However, a blistering 104* off 98 balls for Richard Shelton gave Wymeswold victory with 5 wickets and 4 overs to spare. Farndon (264/8) comprehensively beat Nuthall (70) and moved into second thanks to contributions of 98 from Richard Pinder, 78 from Andrew Duckmanton and 70 from Daniel Hubbard.

In F, struggling Notts Unity Casuals II’s Yasser Tariq hit 122* of his side’s 215/3 to set up victory against second placed Underwood (130). Top team Calverton II (207/7) beat Eastwood Town II (160/9) after the “Wright” sort of contribution from Peter (63) and Ian (5/35) Wright. Caythorpe III moved second in G after overhauling Snibston Grange’s total of 146/7 with the loss of only 2 wickets; James Oldham contributing 77*. Epperstone lost the second spot after managing only 166 in reply to Bramcote II’s 216/7. Star performers for Bramcote were Peter Bacon (4/17), Mark Collins (3/33) and Chris Parkes (98). The highest individual score in G though came from 16 year old Richard Copley, who completed his maiden century, scoring 102 of Bottesford II’s 219/5.

There are new leaders in Division H as top of the table clash between East Leake and previous leaders Rolls Royce Leisure II resulted in a comfortable 69 run victory, Paul Glover and Steve Oakley each taking three wickets for the victors. Gotham Village II (209/8) closed the gap in third with a 25 run success at struggling Edingley despite 52 from ex Southwell man Jim Scott and 5/49 from Ian Wilson.

East Bridgford change places with Rainworth in fourth, Glen Willis top scoring for the hosts in their easy win at Nottingham . Rainworth lost by 85 runs at Kinoulton who produced the division’s outstanding performances, firstly Steve Harling struck 124 and with the ball Harminder Khosa excelled with 7/38. However Cotgrave’s Shaun Hall produced the day’s best figures with 7/14 in their mammoth 144 run victory over doomed Thurgarton II (71).

Hoveringham in Division J look to be only two wins from promotion after beating Gladstone (162) by 40 runs, the losers had the game’s outstanding performance with Martin Widdowson taking 5/45. A good day for Oxton as they thrashed struggling Risley (127), Matt Wheatley (78) and Mike Berry (62*), the victory made even better with a surprise 86 run defeat for second placed Kirkby Portland II at Caunton (186/6) for whom Chris Smith fell 7 short of a century. Next week’s clash between Oxton and Kirkby Portland II could go a long way to decide one of the promotion places.

Bowlers were the winners in the mid table clash between Stapleford and Loughborough Carillion II, the winners had Darren Gelder (5/25) producing the decisive spell as Loughborough fell 16 short of the 84 target.

In Division K, Newstead (249/5) quickly put last week’s setback behind them with a 103 run victory over Woodborough, Ian Greatorex (90*) and Malcolm Townroe (64) were the batting stars for the winners against the strugglers, who had Paul Wilson recording his fourth successive score over 50. The promotion issues are from decided as second placed Sutton Bonington (160/8) fell to a penultimate ball defeat at home to Belvoir who had Pete Sears rolling back the years with 73. Hope then for Lenton Abbey who trounced Lambley (101) by 104 runs. The winners had another Greatorex (John) with another 90* whilst a fine all round performance by James Trafford (38 and 5/29) also played a huge part in the victory.

Division L leaders had a walkover against Old Paviors II who failed to raise a side, but second place Stoke Bardolph kept up the pressure with a 33 run victory over Kimberley III (124), Colin Johnson taking the plaudits with figures of 4/6. In form Flintham also stayed in the promotion hunt as did West Bridgofrdians with an exciting three wicket win at Breaston (190) for whom Steve Battle (100) made a welcome return to form. Belton can breathe a lot easier in third from bottom with a crushing 9 wicket win at Thrumpton II, Rob Ward finishing with figures of 5/13.

In Division M, Basford Hall OB did their promotion hopes a world of good by defeating fourth placed Keyworth, mainly thanks to a maiden ton from Adrian Cooper. It wasn’t the only century in the division as third placed Lambley’s Geoff Spurr struck an unbeaten 121, which coupled with Graham Wheat’s 93 contributed to a target of 236 - too much for Wilsons II who finished way short on 155.

There was relief for Underwood II (198/8) who were successful in their crucial relegation battle at home to Chilwell II (109), Stuart Chalkley top scored with 70 for the victors who also had 15 year old Matt Sisson notching his second successive half century.

Division N leaders, Clifton Village III, warmed up for next weeks Raleigh Cup semi final with a massive 157 run success over Whatton and Aslockton II (86), Matt Orrell striking 124. It was a good day also for the other two promotion chasing sides. Long Whatton II (197) had Russell Roughton (50) and James Cowley (49) in the runs in their win at Plumtree III (147) whilst Hucknall had veteran John Sewell (5/23) to thank for their four wicket win at Stanton & Awsworth III (84).

Snibston Grange II (132) can look over their shoulder a touch more freely with a 42 run victory at home to Caythorpe IV whilst Farnodn’s Luke McGuiness followed up last week’s unbeaten 96 with an equally impressive 94 in his teams comfortable win at struggling Ruddington II.

Gedling are almost home in Division P, Lowe taking a superb 7/21 in their seven wicket success at lowly Kimberley IV (68). Second placed Ellerslie III picked up 17 points after bottom club Thrumpton III failed to raise a side. In a low scoring mid-table affair Cotgrave (103) were successful over Beeston II (57), Vikram Deasi taking 5/16 for the winners. The divisional highlight, however, came at Long Eaton where 16 year old Alex Mee scored 104 out of the 156 required to defeat third place Radcliffe III.

In Division R, bowlers made their mark. Second placed Toton Sycamore II (62/2) saw off the challenge from previously third West Bridgfordians III by bowling them out for 58; Matt Hatton taking 7 of the wickets for just 24. Lee Simpson went one better for Stanton & Awsworth Elks IV, getting his 7 wickets for 19 as his side defended 75 against Collingham III (55). The other bowling performance of note in R was Lowdham II’s Rahil Ahmed who took 6/25 to limit Bingham II to 106; unfortunately his side were all out 7 short, on 99.