Long Eaton come out best in top of table clash
by SNCL Press Team, 28th June 2005

Long Eaton cemented their place at the top of Division A by getting the better of nearest rivals Calverton in the day’s big game in the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League. Almost half way through the season and there is clear daylight now for the leaders who gained a comfortable winning draw thanks to all-rounder Umair Hassan (70 & 3/53) and 67 from Brett Scothern.

Eastwood Town leapfrogged Calverton into second after securing a dramatic tie at fourth placed Attenborough. The hosts batting first scored 168/9 from their 45 overs with Brad Bernie making 55. A dramatic finish was guaranteed after Usman Khan hit 69 in Eastwood’s reply which ended on 168/8. Last season’s runners-up Plumtree have belatedly started to climb the table as they edged out Rolls-Royce (197) by 7 runs. Scott Bailey’s 4 for 47 swinging it their way.

In the other game in A, lowly Balderton got a welcome win over Southwell in another dramatic finish as the hosts prevailed by just one run. Balderton batting first were 156 all out after their 48 overs with a sparkling 42 by Alan Jackson supported by a slightly less sparkling 42 by Chuck Tansley. In reply Tim Green’s 54 for Southwell was in vain as yet another 5fer for Ishan Ratnayake meant Southwell needed 18 runs from the last wicket pair of Mark Foster (21) and number 11 Stephen Wright (1*). And they almost made it, needing 2 off the last ball with the right man on strike from the visitors’ point of view but Foster was bowled by Balderton’s hero Lynn to claim their second win of the campaign.

In B, previous leaders Radcliffe (174/8) slipped to surprise reversal at home to lowly Bramcote (202/7) who gained a winning draw. Norman Jowett with 63 and 4 for 35 by Chris Ludden for improving Bramcote meant Bottesford take over at the top without even bowling a ball as their game was washed out. At the other end of the table Belvoir (212/7) finally got their first win at the 8 th attempt with a narrow 10 run victory over Plumtree (202) despite 95 from Mark Oldham.

West Bridgfordians returned to the top of C after leaders Thrumpton (231) slipped up in a high scoring game at fourth placed Kirkby Portland (266/5) despite a century from Paul Thomas. Hucknall made ground in third as they beat Radcliffe-On-Trent by 7 wickets with Martin Wagstaff starring with 6 for 39.

Old Paviors (217/8) were the only team in Division D to get more than 200 runs on Saturday and it was enough to secure them victory over Long Whatton who finished on 195/8. At the top of Division E, Farndon suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 7 short of Wymeswold’s total of 182/7. At the other end of the table, Lady Bay Boots II managed their first win of the season. Hiren Naik (76*) and Gundeep Singh (43) helped them to a total of 202/9. Long Eaton II were all out for 190 in reply.

Underwood (183/9) maintained their unbeaten run at the top of F as Wayne Condron (66*) contributed to their victory over bottom of the table Gedling & Sherwood II (182/8). In G, Sean King (115) and John Keeno (73*) led the charge for Caythorpe III as they racked up 260/6. Ruddington could manage only 174/7 in reply, despite the best efforts of John Hammond (52) and Colin Goodwin (45). Rolls Royce Leisure extended their lead at the top of H, claiming a full 20 points from their encounter with Edingley. Andrew garden top scored with 77 for Rolls Royce as they set 210/9. Jim Scott got a half century for Edingley but his side were bowled out for 147.

Hoveringham’s proud 100% record at the top of Division J came to an end in devastating circumstances on Saturday, as they crashed to 52 all out to third placed Kirkby Portland II. Brett Jones (5/14) and James Severn (4/21) did the damage for the victors. Oxton (147/7) took full advantage of this slip up to close the gap in second with a comfortable victory over in-form Loughborough Carillion II (52), Steve Thornhill and Mike Berry taking three wickets apiece.

Gladstone (188/ 8) have picked up their form again and moved into fourth with a 111 run victory over struggling Caunton (77), Jason Marrow and Martin Widdowson each taking four wickets, earlier Simon Taylor had top scored for the winners with 62. There was a welcome victory for Newark II over fellow strugglers Risley II, Graham Booth’s unbeaten 53 seeing them past the 111 target set. However there seems to be no respite for bottom club Stanton By Dale (143/9) who went down by eight wickets to visitors Stapleford, who had both Akhlaq Hussain and Gary Dawson recording half centuries.

There were only two games possible in division K and it was another good day at the office for Newstead Village II who cruised past Attenborough III’s total of 115. Malcolm Townroe top scored with 50; seven different batsmen have now passed that landmark for the leaders this season, illustrating their strength in depth. Saturday just got better for the Abbey with a five wicket defeat for nearest challengers Sutton Bonington at Lambley (165/5) who had Mick McMillan notching his third fifty of the season.

Bingham have now gone clear at the top of Division L after another tense finish, this time at Thrumpton II who fell five runs short of the 127 target, Roger Newport (5 for 27) and Graham Marshall (3 for 34) taking the plaudits for the leaders. After three successive defeats, West Bridgfordians II got back on the winning trail with a 46 run victory over second placed Stoke Bardolph, Paul Garton stroking an excellent 108 and in reply 16 year old Stuart Teare (4/26) shone with the ball. Defeat for Bardolph was particularly harsh on Colin Johnson who had turned in a fine all round performance of 56 and 3/54.

It was a good day for sides at the wrong end of the table with three out of the bottom four winning. Kimberley (158/9) made it two wins in a row over Breaston (129) who sorely missed the influential Steve Battle. Belton had Nick Leader (74 not out) and James Mark (4/24) to thank for their comfortable nine wicket victory over Flintham (116) whilst bottom club Old Paviors (105/4) closed the gap on fellow strugglers Shepshed Thirds (102).

There were some low scores in the remaining divisions. In M, Newstead Abbey & Village III (62), Underwood II (86) and Balderton II (92) were all bowled out for less than 100. Lambley II (131/5) moved into second place in the table after the aptly named15 year old Phil Bowles took 4/27 to help limit Keyworth II to 128. In N, Ruddington II (84) and Snibston Grange II (86) vied for the division’s lowest score.

In P, Beeston II must have been worried that their score of 70 was easily going to be overhauled by Long Eaton III. However, in-form Mahboob Azam took 7/9 as they dismissed Long Eaton III for 65. Thrumpton III are still without a win as they crashed out on 75 in reply to Poplars’ score of 112.

One of the low scores in R came from top of the division Lowdham II who were all out for 50, thanks to the bowling of East Leake II’s John Hall (5/6). Edingley II did marginally better, scoring 54 in response to West Bridgfordians III’s 293/7. Batsmen Bob Douglas (107) and Guy Dibley (91) were the chief architects of Bridgfordians’ victory. Collingham III’s Ash Locke took 5/23 to help restrict West Bridgford Legion II to 112. However, West Bridgford Legion II also had an in-form bowler in S Hopkinson, who took 6/14 to give Collingham III the lowest team score of the day – just 45.