Farnsfield still unbeaten, just!!!
by Paul Barker, 24th July 2006

On  a day where the weather had the final say and strategic declarations were the order of the day, league leaders Farnsfield remained unbeaten, but it was a mighty close call in their match against Edwinstowe at Forest Corner.

They bowled out Edwinstowe for just 86 and it looked as though Farnsfield would cruise to yet another easy win. Even though they lost three quick wickets it was still odds on another maximum as they recovered to 40 for 3 but then the heavens opened.

Rashid Riaz (20) and Andy Edwards (14) both got themselves out to loose shots when play resumed with only six overs and one ball remaining and with the score on 64 for 6, Farnsfield decided that their best bet was not to risk anything else going wrong. Asif Zakir who produced an excellent all round display took 3 for 19 and James Peacock also bowled well to take 2 for 24 to thwart the Farnsfield victory bid.

The pitch had astonishing variable bounce and only Asif Zakir (24) batted anything like for Edwinstowe as Mark Hallam captured 3 for 33 for a Farnsfield side in which confidence is sky high. In the end it remained tantalisingly close and who would have won was very much in the balance.

An excellent declaration by Cuckney skipper Will Butler allowed both sides to keep their bonus points in their match against second place Killamarsh. As it was at Edwinstowe, the wicket was far from being top class and when Parmindar Mudhar makes the ball leap off a length batting certainly becomes problematical.

As it was several of the Cuckney batsmen got away to a good start and then got out with Will Butler top scoring on 35. Michael Palmer (25), Simon Shipp (12), Tom Ullyot (12), Will Ullyot (17) and Karl Musgrove (19 n.o.) all made a start but one always had the feeling that none of them were ever comfortable and that the inevitable would happen sooner rather than later.

Killamarsh’s bowlers Steve Ludlam (2 for 34), Rodney Cook (2 for 37) and especially Parmindar Mudhar (4 for 25) used the conditions to perfection as Cuckney struggled to 147 for 9 dec. just before the torrential downpour took place.

Notts. & Arnold Amateurs batting returned to top form after their glitch at Kiveton last week and Bill Trewartha (69) and the elegant Australian left hander Leigh Baldry (62 n.o.) oversaw them reach 204 for 4 against Cutthorpe before rain curtailed play.

Bolsover thanks to Akram Khan (90 n.o.), Andy Rogers (38) and Steve Wooley (30) reached 203 for 3 dec. before rain intervened. Blidworth skipper Dave Wood (2 for 47) was his side’s best bowler and then a long slow interval took place before Blidworth made 6 for 0 when time ran out.

Marshalls looked to be in a spot of trouble when they were reduced to 64 for 4 before the rains fell against a buoyant Kiveton Park side at Middlefield Lane.

At Central Avenue, Glapwell were reduced to 165 for 9 with Matt Hall (46) and Nick Truswell (42) top scoring. Worksop’s John Smith (4 for 38) was the home side’s best bowler in what may have proved to be a very interesting encounter.

Division 2 league leaders Bridon quickly took the top off the powerful Whitwell top order and were then thwarted by a fine innings of 51 by Tom Chester and 42 by Carl Curran which took them to 166 for 7 before Alan Draycott declared. Wayne Spooner (3 for 38) was the pick of the Bridon attack, but then the inevitable rain fell and put another match to bed.

Francois Le Clus, Ransome and Marles brilliant South African all rounder, looked set for another century as he raced to 91 n.o. and was aided and abetted by Ian Sellars (74 n.o.) as their side piled up a massive 176 for 0 against North Wheatley with Leverton. At this point, rain fell and no more play was possible.

Eckington looked to be in for another maximum twenty points when they had Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd in all kinds of trouble on 94 for 7 at Staveley Lane. Only Paul Wilkinson (38) saved Hosiery Mills from an even worse nightmare as Dave Barton (4 for 41) and Simon West (3 for 53) took complete control.

Eckington will feel aggrieved that the rains came because their looked no way back for the Hosiery Mills in this encounter.

Highest score of the day came at Ryton Road where Anston piled up a huge 324 for 6 declared against bottom club Notts & Arnold Amateur 2^nd. Mark Parkinson (71), Michael Norbury (79), Andrew Ruczenczyn (31 n.o.) and Ian Barley (22 n.o.) were the batsmen in form and if the rain hadn’t intervened the odds are that Notts. & Arnold would have faced a long and arduous task to keep their wickets intact.

Jon Mimms (89 n.o.) with good support from Gareth Campion led Everton to 138 for 1 when rain ruined everything at Station Lane, against struggling Farnsfield 2^nd. Mimms who needs no invitation to score runs must have been loving every minute of it and looked set for a mighty score on the league’s best wicket.

Papplewick & Linby 2^nd were encountering a bit of a struggle and were 125 for 5 in their match against Mansfield & Pleasley when rain intervened.