Khan looks a real capture
by Paul Barker, 21st May 2006

As the awful weather which has blighted this Summer’s cricket programme continued, in the few matches that survived certain interesting factions took place.

The only Division 1 match that survived was at Langwith Road, Cuckney where the home side and Bolsover put together an interesting match that was played in a terrific spirit which did credit to both sides. Fed up with the continual rain, both skippers decided to ‘give it a go’ and they nearly produced a result and would have done if the heavens hadn’t opened with the game delicately poised.

Batting first in a match reduced to 40 overs per side Cuckney managed a rather modest 148 for 5 with wicket-keeper Elliott Hind keeping up his good form with the bat making 48 and great support came from promoted second XI player David Goff who was unbeaten on 44. Eddie Grant was the pick of the Bolsover attack taking 2 for 34, and Bolsover must have been very pleased with their work in the field.

This target looked rather vulnerable and Bolsover moved away to a good start with Akram Khan their new Pakistani import, looking like a top class capture. Khan was unbeaten on 35 when the rain finally killed any hope of a result with Bolsover on 64 for 1. A Cuckney spokesman told me ‘I think Bolsover look as though they have a winner with this fellow, he looks to have genuine class’. We will all have to wait and see.

How would it have ended? On the evidence of what had been see, Bolsover looked on their way to a much needed victory, whilst Cuckney would point out that a couple of wickets might have changed everything. We will never know now.

In Division 2 the Bridon v Mansfield and Pleasley match looked to be in a similar situation when once again the rain spoiled everything. Batting first, Mansfield & Pleasley were extremely indebted to Ian Woodall who scored a magnificent 107 n.o. in trying conditions as his side struggled to 163 for 8. Bridon’s Andy Legg was the pick of their attack taking 4 for 25 whilst Matt Makings lent valuable support with 2 for 33.

In reply although losing two early wickets, Bridon were very much in the game as a good partnership between Rob McLeod (39 n.o.) and Chris Ward (26 n.o.) took them to a promising 95 for 2 when rain intervened. Anthony Timpson (2 for 24) was the wicket taker for Mansfield and Pleasley but with only eight overs to go, it was touch and go which way this one would have finished.

At Papplewick a routine catch which was spilled in the slips probably was the difference beween the home side recording a victory and settling for a rain affected draw which they had to finally against Farnsfield 2nd.

Farnsfield were struggling badly on 73 for 7 when Hadley Dunn was dropped before he had scored. From this point Dunn and Bryan Gould put on 60 very valuable runs taking the score to 143 all out which was a lot more than might have been expected. Dunn batted superbly after this early blip making an excellent 37 and it was his contribution that was the real backbone of the Farnsfield innings.

In reply Papplewick literally cruised to 53 for 0 and looked as big a favourites to win a match as you are ever likely to see. Steve Waite  (33 n.o.) was taking the bowling apart but then the rain came and from that moment there was no chance of any further play.