Blidworth make the perfect return
by Paul Barker, 23rd April 2006

After two barren years of relegation which took them from the Nottinghamshire Premier League to Division 2 of the Bassetlaw League, Blidworth halted the slump by gaining a last gasp promotion last season. They then got off to the perfect start with a narrow win over highly rated Edwinstowe on Saturday.

Low scores were the order of the day in which about 50% of the matches scheduled actually took place and Blidworth could not have wished for a better start as they overcame the highly fancied Edwinstowe side by two wickets in a low scoring encounter.

Only Dave Hallam in his customary role of sheet anchor defied the Blidworth attack and he showed his colleagues the way to be successful on a damp wicket where flamboyant stroke play was out of the question. Hallam grafted his way to an unbeaten 36 and was the only player to defy Richard Smith (3 for 27) and Danny Willcock (3 for 18) who both bowled a perfect line and length as Edwinstowe were tumbled out for just 112 runs.

Not that this proved to be easy and it was only due to the fact that the two people who had done the damage for Blidworth with the ball did the same with the bat with Richard Smith (39 n.o.) and Danny Willcock (26) both turning in man of the match performances. Shaun Bullin (5 for 30) bowled superbly for Edwinstowe but the total his side had posted was just too little as Blidworth finally reached 113 for 8 and victory.

Blidworth must be pleased that they have made such a good start and although there is a long way to go yet, they should gain plenty of confidence from this extremely good win which showed all their fighting qualities. Edwinstowe will recover from this and go on to have a good season and that is why Blidworth can take heart from this result, they beat what is basically a very good side.

Cuckney got away to a real flyer by thrashing Cutthorpe by a massive 94 runs at Langwith Road. Batting first, Cuckney amassed 178 for 8 with debutant Elliott Hind making an impressive 64 in good style. Andy Knowles was the pick of the Cutthorpe attack taking 4 for 40 in a good stint of medium paced bowling.

This total was far too many for Cutthorpe who plummeted to just 84 all out and had it not been for Asadullah Butt’s 41 one dreads to think how bad it would have been. All the Cuckney attack showed how it should be done with some excellent line and length deliveries. Andy Stephenson (4 for 12), South African Richard Stroh (4 for 25) and Cliff Adwick (2 for 6) bowled brilliantly as Cutthorpe simply collapsed under the pressure.

On this form Cuckney look likely to be challenging for honours this term, but they will meet sterner opposition than Cutthorpe who looked a pale shadow of the side we have come to know over the past few seasons.

How do you only score 92 for 9 on what is arguably the best wicket in the league and then go on to win by 13 runs? Ask Kiveton Park because they managed it although they might want to keep the solution a secret. Batting first on a rain soddened pitch where the ball kept very low, only the super confident Phil Cooper (44) belied his years with an innings of immaculate maturity for one so young.

However the contributions towards the end of the innings from Kyle McKeeman (17) and Carl Curran (19) were invaluable but 92 for 9 represented a gettable target for opponents Marshalls. Australian Gareth Yelland (4 for 26) and Ian Dewhurst (3 for 32) bowled splendidly for Marshalls and they must have been very pleased with their work in this half of the match.  

This situation got even better as Marshalls with skipper Paul Van den Heuvel and Yelland both batting well got them away to a reasonable start at 42 for 3, but they then folded like a pack of cards to 79 all out. Dean Walker (5 for 24) and Australian Andy Maher (4 for 24) did the bulk of the damage and Kyle McKeeman took the other wicket at a cost of just nine runs from eight overs.

Kiveton showed that you should never give a match up no matter what odds are stacked against you, whilst Marshalls look to have a more potent bowling attack than last season but on the evidence of this the batting looks a little frail after you have knocked the top off it.

The other two matches in Division 1 were abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Into Division 2 and Ransome and Marles who were desperately unfortunate not to gain promotion last term got away to a great start after staring defeat in the face for most of their match against Manfield and Pleasley.

Batting first Ransomes were limited to 91 for 9 with only South African import Francis Le Clus (17) defying Ross Pinder (3 for 40) and Darren Walker (1 for 5 – from 13 overs with 11 maidens!).

This total looked nowhere near enough as Mansfield and Pleasley reached 80 for 5 needing a further twelve for victory. However they only managed a further two runs and were bowled out for 82 to lose by 9 runs. Gary Lambert (4 for 16) and Robert Taylor (3 for 33) did the damage as Ransomes played their get out of jail card at exactly the right time to pull off a fantastic win.

Papplewick 2nd went down to three wicket defeat in another low scoring encounter at Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2nd. Batting first Papplewick reached 82 for 9 with John Spellman (4 for 19) and Darren Brittlebank (3 for 16) both using the conditions to perfection.

Not that Hosiery Mills found things easy and had it not been for a fine innings of 29 by Sam Butler things might have been very different. Hosiery Mills struggled to victory on 83 for 7 but both these rather young sides will improve as the season wears on.

Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2nd who escaped relegation last season because of the restructuring of the leagues went down to a four wicket defeat at Whitwell who look as though they might have a good season this time around.

Notts. & Arnold batted first and were bowled out for 144 despite good efforts from Joe Pallister (33) and Martin Mitchell (39). Ian Dennis who has returned after a season off, made a dramatic re-entry taking 5 for 32 as Whitwell performed very well in the field.

This total never looked like being enough as Whitwell skipper Alan Draycott batted with his usual assurance to make 53 as his side reached 148 for 6 to gain a comfortable victory. On the evidence of this one, Whitwell look as though they are set for a good season whilst Notts. & Arnold might face another tricky one.

The other three matches in this section were abandoned.