Top dogs in tense low scoring encounter
by SNCL Press Team, 4th August 2005

On a rain affected day where many games were abandoned, the top 3 sides all managed to gain the expected maximum points against the bottom 3 sides in Division A of the Gunn & Moore South Notts Cricket League. That’s despite improving Balderton, who last week thrashed high-flyers Long Eaton but just couldn’t quite repeat the trick of beating League leaders in successive weeks after falling ten runs short in a tense low scoring encounter against new Division A top dogs Calverton (120).

Long Eaton bounced back with a comprehensive 9 wicket win against lowly Rolls-Royce Leisure (149). Mark Harrison (4/37) and Ian Hopkins (57*) hit form to make sure the former leaders got back to winning ways whilst third placed Attenborough (240/5) had an equally convincing victory against basement boys Gotham Village (121). Attenborough won by 119 runs which was almost the single contribution from in-form Brad Bernie (118*). Brad was rivalled for Man-of-the-match though by all-rounder Sam Clulow who blasted a quick 60 and took 4 for 30 in Gotham ’s reply.

In B the top two also improved their promotion credentials as similarly they were the only sides to gain positive results in their division. Leaders Bottesford saw off the challenge of Newstead Abbey & Village (149) by 7 wickets. Dave Warburton’s 6 for 49 set up a small target to chase of just 150 but this didn’t stop Bottesford’s Dave Allen registering a brilliant century. Radcliffe-on-Trent (92/2) stay in touch after a quick and ruthless victory over Newark (91) by 8 wickets. Chris Holden took 6 for 23 for Radcliffe.

In Division C it was the bottom two this time that were thankful they beat the rain. Nottingham followed up last week’s brilliant win over leaders West Bridgfordians by thrashing Radcliffe-on-Trent II (101). Simon Brooks’ 49 not out and Paul Allsopp again with 42 guided Nottingham home.

Bottom side Thurgarton (108/5) had a similar win against Kirkby Portland (107) with another 5fer from Dave Higson setting up a deserved victory. Promotion chasing Keyworth failed to gain ground on leaders West Bridgfordians who were washed out, as they slumped to an 82 run defeat at Kimberley Institute (180/9). Rob Baker’s 5fer for Keyworth was in vain as Craig Pitts’ 48, along with 4 for 22 by Russ Kirk, meant West Bridgfordians stretch their lead without getting their whites muddied.

In D, with Southwell’s game in A called off early, frustratingly for promotion chasing Stanton-By-Dale, D’s basement boys Southwell II were able to field a stronger side than usual as first team regulars Alex Mitchell (3/33) and keeper Dave Makey (34) along with 48 not out from Tom Foster meant Southwell II (111/1) upset the form book with a nine-wicket thrashing of third-placed Stanton-By-Dale (110). Division ‘A level’ fielding was also on view by Southwell as they effected 4 brilliant run outs to keep the visitors in check.

In the only other game to be completed in D Old Paviors (126) got the better of Risley who for the second week running were skittled for a run-shy 75. Richard Stead with 4/14 did the damage after earlier Risley’s Dean Cooper (4/34) had given the home side the scent of victory.

Long Eaton II cemented their place at the top of Division E with a win over second placed Stanton & Awsworth Elks. Batting first, Long Eaton scored 157/9, including 63 from Ben Middleton. They then dismissed the Elks for just 99. Farndon (247/7) stay third after a blistering 131* from Mark Townrow steered them to victory past Gedling Colliery II’s total of 245/5. The main stars for Gedling were Mark Bailey and Steve Bateman with 85 and 84 respectively.

In F, promotion hunters Underwood and relegation-threatened Toton Sycamore battled it out on a pitch that was rapidly turning into a mud bath. Having batted for 42 overs, Underwood declared on 204 when the rain became so hard that a break had to be taken. David Chalkley had scored 106. 10-man Toton emerged to bat in the murky light on a rain sodden pitch and had no answer to Will Wilson (4/25) and Chris Briggs (5/14); they were bowled out for 41.

Ellerslie II went top of G as previous leaders Epperstone had their game rained off. Playing away at Snibston Grange, Daniel Footitt (4/22) and James Vivian (4/46) helped dismiss Snibston for 155. Todd Mills’ 40 then put Ellerslie on the way to a 20 point win with 3 wickets remaining. Third place Caythorpe III (158/5) overtook Lowdham’s 157 thanks, in part, to 88 from Sean Clinton.

With Division H leaders Rolls Royce Leisure II having their game postponed, East Leake (182) took full advantage to narrow the gap with a 72 run victory over Cotgrave, Chris Neil falling four short of an unbeaten century. Rainworth Welfare (243 – 6 dec) move into third and it was a day to remember for Darren Shepherd. Earlier he had notched 64 with the bat and with the ball he claimed 5 victims including a hat trick, struggling Thurgarton fell way short on 151. The rain ruined what would have been a tight finish at promotion chasing Gotham Village II where visiting Nottingham II were 53 for chasing the home side’s 96.

In Division J, Hoveringham (169/9) took a huge stride in their promotion quest with a 54 run success over third placed Oxton. Highlights of the game were Stuart Walton who passed 600 runs for the season and Rashid Akhar whose six victims meant he has now taken 14 wickets in 3 games. Oxton’s James Crudgington (54) led the reply but he fought a lone battle. Worse news was to come for Oxton as second placed Kirkby Portland (244 /6) increased the gap with a convincing victory over bottom club Stanton by Dale II, the two key performers were at it again for the winners with Micky Barratt striking his second century of the season and Jim Severn adding a further four wickets to his impressive season’s tally.

At the other end of the table there was a welcome win for Newark II who after scoring a below par 129, shot visitors Stapleford out for 45. There was a huge victory also for Caunton (125/4) over fellow strugglers Risley II (105/9). Caunton owed much to Dave Bracegirdle (39 and 3/ 12) who starred with both bat and ball.

The Division K title quest now hangs in the balance with a second defeat of the season for Newstead Village II at mid table Nottingham Victoria . The home side totalling 230 with Dino Meare top scoring with 51, in reply the leaders fell an agonising three runs short, despite a half century from Matt Thrower.

It was even closer at Lambley as the home side lost by one run to Carrington. Carrington had posted 194 in a reduced 36 overs a side game with Sultan Khan top scoring with 50, in reply despite 56 from Ian Staples it was a second successive defeat for Lambley and they can now afford no further slip ups if they are to have a say in the promotion race. If Woodborough survive in Division K they will owe a huge debt to Paul Wilson who followed up the previous two weeks’ scores of 100* and 62 with another unbeaten 117. Not even 78 from Richard Flower senior for Belvoir in reply to Woodborough’s 224 was enough and Belvoir after this 36 run defeat will again be looking nervously over their shoulder.

It was an excellent day for Division L leaders Bingham who won convincingly by six wickets at Belton (114), skipper Graham Marshall again setting the example with an unbeaten 53. Stoke Bardolph in second were rained off so both West Bridgfordians and Flintham closed the gap on their promotion rival. West Bridgford had Faz Chaudry (6/15) shining with the ball in their 5 wicket win at home to bottom club Shepshed III (99) whilst there is no doubting that Flintham are the form team at present and showed their intentions with a seven wicket success at Kimberley III (98), Mick North grabbing four wickets.

Rain prevented a finish in the match of the day in Division M between Basford Hall OB and Stanton Awsworth II with the home side 23 for 2 chasing the visitors’ 92, earlier Rowberry and Hickling had taken 4 and 3 wickets respectively for Basford. Third placed Lambley II could not complete either so Keyworth II closed the gap with an eight wicket victory at home to Underwood (100), Chris Legg taking 4 for 26 for the winners. The only other completed game in the division saw struggling Balderton II gain a vital win at bottom club Chilwell II, knocking off the 101 required for the loss of three wickets. Earlier Robert Bunkell and Ben Clipsham had taken four wickets each.

In Division N, Clifton Village put last weeks setback firmly behind them with a crushing 88 run victory over mid table Plumtree III (112), Rik Smith (85) top scoring for the leaders. Second placed Long Whatton II may have been relieved when the rain came as they had slipped to 57 for 6 chasing Caythorpe IV’s total of 148. Elsewhere Farndon II (202/ 8) took a massive step to safety with a seven run victory over fellow strugglers Snibston Grange II, Luke McGuiness (96*) and the losing Andrew Morley (86*) taking the plaudits in the game. Bottom club Ruddington II may have also felt hard done by notching up 195/7 thanks to Gary Dyke’s unbeaten century and then reducing third place Hucknall to 27/2 in reply before the heavens opened.

Gedling III look a sure fire bet for promotion in Division P. Their latest success came with a six wicket victory at home to Long Eaton III (82), Gedling’s Gavin Owan producing the games best figures with 4/17. The match of the day though was undoubtedly at second placed Ellerslie III who tied with Cotgrave (154) who had Ian Lyn scoring 81. Beeston II received a surprising reversal at struggling Poplars (132), Graham Featherstone top scoring with 53 in a 12 run success while there was severe disappointment for winless Thrumpton III who were well set at 123/1 in reply to Kimberley IV (192/7) before the rain came.

Lowdham II stretched their lead in R, gaining the full 20 points as they restricted Bingham III to 80 and got the runs for the loss of 2 wickets. The only other match to complete saw second placed Toton Sycamore II (113) beaten by Collingham III (114/4), thanks to 6/15 from Robert Botterby and 65 from Tobias Rooney.