Riaz blasts Blidworth
by Paul Barker, 16th July 2006

A hurricane 107 n.o. by Pakistani import Rashid Riaz was the highlight of an high scoring draw between league leaders Farnsfield and a stubborn Blidworth outfit at Station Lane. Riaz had scored just six runs from his first 19 balls received but he then cut loose to register his century in another 40 balls bowled at him in an explosive knock.

Farnsfield skipper Andy Edwards described it as the best innings he had ever seen in his life at this level and when one considers that two other centuries were scored in the match it shows the quality when we haven’t even started to talk about those yet.

Batting first, Farnsfield made a colossal 343 for 2 with James Bennett making a magnificent 140 with some splendid shots all around the wicket and Paul Delaney (76) setting the foundation for the Riaz massacre. From the moment he had settled in he simply took the wilting Blidworth attack apart in a masterly display that will take a lot of bettering.

Although they must have felt very tired, credit is due to Blidworth for the way they came back when they batted. With Ritchie Gibbons and Lee Wilson absent from their ranks one might have thought that Farnsfield would have gone through them quite easily but a gritty display especially by New Zealander Doug Winger who scored a brilliant 127 saw them hold out quite easily on 255 for 6.

Support came from Craig Turton (44) and Karl Mayes (32) but you only have to look at the scores and the answer once again is that this Farnsfield wicket must be the best in the East Midlands. Anyone who can’t score runs on here shouldn’t be playing cricket and the groundsman certainly deserves every plaudit available. 

Another person who deserves credit is Richard Morley the Blidworth scorer who has been bestowed the honour of scoring for England Under 19s in the match against India Under 19s at Derby on Tuesday 18^th July. Well done Richard and all the best to you.

Notts. & Arnold Amateur who have been on a flyer in recent weeks came to grief as they went down by 41 runs at Kiveton Park. Once again the ultra talented Phil Cooper (85) led the way for Kiveton with a superb knock, and Tom Neely (42) and Richard Spurr (38) provided excellent support as their side reached a more than useful 239 for 7.

Notts. & Arnold were once again well served by their skipper Ian Flood who made a sparkling 73 but for the first time in many weeks the support was lacking and a good effort by the Australian express Andy Maher (4 for 44) saw them crumble to 198 all out and saw their splendid run of late halted.

Killamarsh moved back into contention with a winning draw over Bolsover who were hanging on desperately at the close at 144 for 9. Killamarsh batted first and made a huge 267 for 9 with David Allen (35), Adam Burgess (80), Sam Malpass (47) and skipper Adrian Rivington (31 n.o.) all making significant contributions. Steve Woolley with 4 for 55 bowled exceptionally well for an overworked Bolsover side.

At no stage did Bolsover look like overtaking this mammoth total and it was virtually down to Akram Khan who made a superb 43 that saw them delay Killamarsh anf finally cling on for a vital draw. Pramuka Liyanage (3 for 40) and Parmindar Mudhar (3 for 36) bowled well for Killamarsh but they could not separate the final pair to give them maximum points.

Glapwell who have had a nightmare season until last week’s win over Cuckney continued their good form by beating Cutthorpe with unbelievable ease by eight wickets. Batting first Cutthorpe were dismissed for just 180 which looked to be a below par effort.

Ali Jaffrey (65) and Asadullah Butt (60) quite frankly saved the innings as only 55 runs were shared by the other nine batsmen. This was mainly duo to Iain O’Brien (5 for 44) who seems to be firing on nearly all cylinders once again, and Matt Hall (3 for 40) and both bowled a miserly line and length.

This target was easily reached by Glapwell with Rob Davison (36) setting the pace and then the coup de grace was administered by Matt Hall (51 n.o.) and Iain O’Brien (45 n.o.) as Glapwell stormed home on 183 for 2 and victory once again.

Marshalls have had an up and down season up to now but recent results would suggest that they are very much on an up side at the moment. They overtook Worksop’s rather disappointing 184 for 7 with a few overs to spare and look to be easing their way out of trouble.

Batting first Worksop’s Chris Taylor (55) and Luke Ambrose (66 n.o.) gave their side an excellent platform, but the rest just fell away alarmingly as Andrew West (3 for 45) limited them to what appeared to be a rather average total.

This proved so as skipper Paul Van den Heuvel (33) and Mark Davies (67) carried Marshalls to 185 for 7 and a three wicket win. Worksop were once again well served by Ramesh Sanjay (3 for 67) and Paul Burton (4 for 46) but the truth of the matter is they didn’t score enough runs. There is plenty of time to go yet, but Worksop need to re-adjust and get back to their early season form or they could slide into the relegation zone. They have a few points to spare at the moment but could get sucked in with more performances like this one.

Bridon are looking very much a confident side as they head the pack at the top of Division 2. They easily accounted for Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd by 150 runs at the Fieldings after scoring a massive 293 for 4 dec. which was never going to be threatened. Actually Hosiery Mills got away to a very good start as Bridon were reduced to 18 for 2 and it could have been much worse as Wayne Spooner was dropped twice off relatively easy catches before he had made 10!

How they paid for this! Spooner rode his luck and timed his shots with masterly fluency as he amassed 145 in a fine innings. Great support came from Chris Ward (50) and a savage unbeaten knock of 76 by Darren Spooner before Gareth Jones mercifully called a halt with two overs to go. Darren Johnson with 3 for 56 was the pick of the Hosiery Mills attack which had a hard time of things.

Whilst it looked unlikely that the Hosiery Mills would trouble this huge score, the opening salvo from Simon Davison made doubly sure that they wouldn’t. Davison took 3 for 23 to take out the top of the Hosiery Mills order and it was only a spirited and bold stand by Darren Johnson (43) and Andy Roberts (44) that added an air of respectability to things.

Roberts in particular made some huge hits but one always felt a mistake would come sooner or later and so it did when he was bowled by a ball that kept terribly low. Chris Ward (3 for 46) was the other Bridon bowler to shine but it was a good performance by the league leaders who look to have a great chance of climbing back to the top at the first attempt.

Ransome & Marles faced a tricky encounter with Whitwell and came out narrow winners by two wickets in an epic encounter. Batting first, Ransomes must have been delighted to get rid of Alan Draycott and Heath Bush cheaply but good knocks by Ian Dennis (58) and Duncan Forrest (31) pulled the innings around somewhat before they were finally dismissed for just 148. Paul Taylor (3 for 48) and Francois Le Clus (yes he can be as effective with the ball) took 5 for 28 were the thorns in the Whitwell batting line-up.

Any thoughts that this might be easy were quickly dispelled when Le Clus fell cheaply and Ransomes looked to be in trouble. However four players Ian Sellars, Rob Taylor, Tony Betteridge and Paul Taylor all incredibly enough made 27 each and although Ian Dennis took 3 for 42, Ransomes had enough in hand to reach 151 for 8 and victory to hold on to second place. Both these sides deserve credit for producing a very competitive game of cricket and it wasn’t too difficult to see why both are enjoying good season’s.

It would be folly as well to write Eckington out of the hunt for honours and they managed another twenty points with a 50 run win over Papplewick and Linby 2^nd at Staveley Lane. Batting first on the usual excellent Eckington wicket, the home side piled up 234 for 6 with Julian Carlile (69), Tom Dawson (40), Karl Fields (40) and Luke Dawson (30 n.o.) all sharing in the carnage. Papplewick were well served by Tim Clarke, Steve Alford and Nazrim Sookram who took a brace of wickets each.

Papplewick are a side that can never be written off and they made a fine effort of affairs before being dismissed for 184. Excellent displays were recorded by Ian Hardy (43), Steve Waite (34) and the hard hitting Jamie Peat (31) but the final total was just a bridge too far for them. Dave Barton (3 for 22) and Wayne Dye (3 for 32) were the Eckington bowlers in form as they continue to menace the top two.

Mansfield & Pleasley just cling on waiting for the top sides to fail and it might happen before the season is out. They easily saw off the challenge of Notts & Arnold Amateur 2^nd who are becoming divorced at the foot of the table. Batting first M. & P. made a respectable 204 for 6 with Ian Woodall (78 n.o.) and Darren Walker (53) taking the batting honours. Ifty Ahmed (4 for 36) bowled a good spell for Notts & Arnold who did quite well to keep the score to respectable levels.

However they were bowled out for just 94 with only Jermaine Twitt (34) preventing a complete rout. Anthony Timpson (4 for 14) and Darren Walker (4 for 45) proved much too good for the rest as M. & P. kept their faint hopes alive.

Everton got back to winning ways with a breathtaking four run win over Anston at the Metcalf Ground. Batting first Everton reached a commendable 222 for 6 with John Mimms again batting superbly to reach 84.

Anston’s scorer Ken Lamb said ‘John always scores runs against us,’ and whilst this may be right, it strikes me that he scores runs against everybody. Good supporting roles were played by Rob Nicholas (29), Duncan Hargreaves (35 n.o.) and John Shaw (32 n.o.) whilst Graham Tweed (2 for 12) bowled superbly for Anston.

Anston however made a marvellous game of it before being bowled out for 218 to lose agonisingly by just four runs. Dean Brearley (41), Andrew Forster (40), Andrew Ruczenczyn (35), Graham Tweed (29) and Greg Pearson (22) in a last gasp assault just failed as Everton bowled and caught quite brilliantly. Steven Crooks (3 for 61) and Simon Turner (3 for 44) were the pick of the bowling attack whilst Gareth Campion (3 catches) and Duncan Hargreaves (5 catches) are also worthy of mention in what was a wonderful game.

The last match in this section saw two relegation threatened sides North Wheatley with Leverton and Farnsfield 2^nd fight it out before the former gained a vital winning draw. Batting first North Wheatley were superbly served by Wayne Harrison (81) as they reached 195 for 8. Pete Wood with 3 for 45 was the pick of the Farnsfield attack which stuck to its task well.

It was however much too much for Farnsfield who closed on 159 for 7 with 13 year old Sam Wood belying his young age as he made an assured 57. Jamie Bovill who is still a quality performer with the ball captured 3 for 26 for North Wheatley.