Basement boys Balderton destroy leaders Long Eaton
by SNCL Press Team, 27th July 2005

Long time leaders Long Eaton lost their grip on the top division after the biggest shock of the season in Division A of the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League. The home side whose form had recently taken a dip, registered a big fat zero against relegation-haunted Balderton who sensationally won by 10 wickets after Long Eaton were skittled for just 83 with the irrepressible Sri Lankan Ishan Ratnayake taking 4 for 14, and together with Ian Black (4 /18) instigating the leaders’ downfall.

After last week’s failure to capitalise on Long Eaton’s slip, Calverton this week made no mistakes and now sit proudly on top after 96 not out from top all-rounder Pete Crawley helped his side chase down Plumtree’s 236 for 7. After some early scares Clint Du’Plessis (75) and Richard Hunter (40*) rescued the new leaders (237/5). Elsewhere in A there were more ‘big fat zeros’ as Rolls-Royce (118) were trounced by third placed Attenborough (120/1) and bottom side Gotham (96) were no match for Southwell (100/2) who had Steve Wright (6./30) and South African Jacques Oberhalzer (63*) on top form, as was Attenborough’s Brad Bernie once again (69*).

There was no game for B leaders Bottesford but the chasing pack all registered victories as Gedling & Sherwood go second with a win at Newark after Radcliffe-On-Trent just failed to get maximum points at Bramcote (159/9), having to settle for a winning-draw after Matt Stewart’s century had helped Radcliffe post 221. There were also good wins for fourth placed Newstead Abbey & Village against Clifton Village II and Loughborough Carillon who remain fifth.

As in the top division, in C the leaders West Bridgfordians slipped to a shock defeat at home to bottom club Nottingham. After setting the visitors 198 to win, thanks mainly to Andy McCarroll (52) and Jon Sheard (46), the leaders would have been confident of victory but Paul Allsopp (61*), Mat Lyas (42) and Darren Shaw (34*) had other ideas as Nottingham (201/4) claimed maximum points with a well deserved 6 wicket win. Keyworth won to make up ground in second, also by six wickets at home to Wilsons (141) and Hucknall also keep up the pressure with a 4 wicket win over Kirkby Portland (154). All-rounder Jamie Braybrook (4/16), as ever, did his share of the damage whilst David Rowe smashed 82 not out with the bat.

Completing a very bad day for the leaders in the top divisions, D’s top side West Indian Caribs slipped to a rare defeat at Stanton-By-Dale. Sagheer Akhtar’s 63 enabled Caribs to post a competitive 192/9 but Ben Savage’s 86 proved enough for the promotion chasing hosts (196/6). Stanton-By-Dale move up to third. A century by Dickenson and Ian Baddeley’s 70 ensured the second placed side Attenborough (256/5) closed in on the leaders as they thumped Risley (75) by a massive 181 runs. 15 year-old Chris Allcoat took 5 for 8 to rip through the Risley tale. Ashley Stevenson (5/47) was in the wickets again as he made sure that Wollaton II climbed out the relegation zone with their second win on the trot. This time it was a thrilling 1 run win against mid-table Long Whatton (168) who required 2 to win and 1 to tie off the last ball but failed to get any as the game ended with a run out and dramatic victory for ecstatic Wollaton.

Farndon edged closer to the promotion places in E with a win over Willoughby on the Wolds . Martin Tustin took 4/39 on the way to Farndon dismissing Willoughby for 162; then Mark Hubbard scored 95* as Farndon sailed past the required total with only 2 wickets down. In F, there was another upset as Underwood (204) were knocked off the top, as Whatton & Aslockton’s Simon Wallis (6/39) ripped through their batting order. Another Simon, Filipowicz then scored 110* to give Whatton a comfortable victory. Calverton II, like their first team counterparts, took full advantage to stake their claim at the top of the table, beating Notts Unity Casuals II (129) by 102 runs, with a contribution of 93 from Jamie Taylor.

Both the top teams from last week, Epperstone and Bramcote, were beaten in G. Epperstone (129), however, remain top despite losing to Caythorpe III (221/7), who benefited from half centuries from Sean King and Paul Reddington and a 5-fer from Andrew Stashkayovich. Bramcote II lost their second place after seeming certain of victory over lowly Bestwood Village . Bramcote II had put on a creditable 190/7, with Nick Anderson-Pearce making 64 and Bestwood’s Neil South taking 5/14. Bestwood’s batting then fell prey to James Isherwood (5/45) and by the 39 th over Bestwood were 143/9. However, Neil South then turned hero with the bat, making 30* and keeping up his end of a last wicket partnership of 51 that won Bestwood the match with 8 balls to spare.

Leaders of H, Rolls Royce Leisure II, were also defeated this by Cotgrave. Cotgrave put on 245/5 thanks to Tony Newby (65) and Vinnit Desai (54). Desai than took 3/22 and team mate Steve Kennedy took 4/36 to skittle Rolls out for 124. Rainworth (120) gave up their second place in the table to opponents East Leake (197/8), who had Steve Oakley in fine all round form (46 and 5/25) and Rob Speake hitting 77.

The top four all won in Division J, which should lead to an exciting climax as we enter the final third of the season. Firstly Hoveringham had the prolific Stuart Walton (55) in form again taking his season’s tally to 570 in the visitors’ six wicket success at mid table Loughborough Carillion II (144). Kirkby Portland remain in second after an easy victory at Stapleford (119 for 8), James Chamberlain hitting 62 for the winners.

Oxton’s Andy Draper surpassed last weeks unbeaten 123 with a brilliant 128 becoming an elite member of the successive centuries club. In reply to the home side’s 258, Caunton could only muster 113 with in-form Mark Zajac adding another four wickets to his tally. Gladstone(286/8) remain fourth after a comprehensive 106 run success over Newark II, the story behind this game was a 70 ball maiden century form Paul Mantle, made even more remarkable by the fact he came in at number 8.

Finally in Division J, some relief at last for bottom club Stanton by Dale II who completed the double over Risley II. The basement side’s heroes were Pete Whysall (78) and Andy Morley and John Fitzpatrick who took 4 and 3 wickets respectively as Risley fell 13 short of the 170 target.

The top four were up against each other in Division K and it was Newstead Village and Sutton Bonington who strengthened their promotion claims. Newstead had Ian Gretaorex (59*) and skipper Malcolm Townrow in the runs as they overcame fourth placed Lambley (172) by five wickets whilst Bonington’s Adey Tongue (4/43) proved the match winner in their tense 11 run victory over third place Lenton Abbey (140).

At the other end of the table Woodborough could not follow up last week’s success and went down by three wickets at home to mid-table Nottingham Victoria (160/7). Earlier the consistent Paul Wilson (62) had top scored for the losers whilst Victoria ’s Jack Kirk (6/29) recorded the day’s best figures in the division. Attenborough III have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation with a thrilling one wicket victory over Belvoir II (183/5), Martin Shoemaker top scoring for the winners with 75.

It was first versus second in Division L and Bingham regained top spot with a five wicket victory over Stoke Bardolph (160), Graham Marshall producing the game’s performance with 5/34. West Bridgfordians II, after a sticky patch mid season, are now bang in form at just the right time, Samit Sunmarser following up his four catches with an unbeaten 93 in their six wicket win at struggling Old Paviors II (164) for whom Drew Contractor and Phil Cranfield both struck fifties.

There were runs galore at Flintham, 532 in all and a century in each innings, Nick Cummings (137) and Mark Payne (108*) were the benefactors as visiting Thrumpton II fell 30 runs short. 479 runs were hit at Breaston where Simon Parks’ unbeaten 105 helped the home side to a 5 wicket success over struggling Belton for whom Chris Leader top scored with 86. Finally in L, Kimberley’s Paul Blatherwick (3/21) rolled back the years with a fiery spell in the home side’s 9 wicket win over bottom club Shepshed III (84), 15 year old Danny Williams (32*) eased the winners home.

In Division M an innings of 105* by Ernie Lay set Keyworth II well on the way to victory over Balderton for whom Rob Bunkle scored 81. Jessus Smalley returned a career best of 6/18 and Geoff Spurr 57 for Lambley II as they cruised to an easy win over Basford Hall Old Boys. James Summers scored 72* out of Chilwell II’s 123/2 reply to Newstead Abbey & Village III (122).

The highlight in Division N was Ross Brown's 129 for Hucknall III in a total of 302 in a big win against Snibston Grange II. Top team Clifton Village III were skittled out for only 100 against Long Whatton. The top bowling in the division was Mark Jones’ 6 wickets for 8 runs for Caythorpe IV as they won comfortably against Farndon II.

Gedling Colliery III won the Division P top of the table clash with Radcliffe on Trent III by 5 wickets with young Joe Hewitt scoring 69*. Third placed Ellerslie III again secured an easy victory over Poplars despite David Thompson again top scoring with 62*. Toton Sycamore II’s rein at the top of Division R proved all too short as they finished 56 short of the 172/9 set by West Bridgfordians III.