Blidworth storm home
by Paul Barker, 28th May 2006

There can’t be the slightest doubt that everyone likes to see cricket played on good ‘shirt-front’ style wickets, but we have to accept the fact that with the climate as it is in this country it is not always going to work out that way.

Contrary to what some buffoon from the Water Board said on national TV that we are heading for a drought in this country and a hose pipe ban might have to take place, I am sure that the officials and teams of our local cricket associations are heartily fed up with the sight of rain and wonder what the hell he was talking about.

However with this inclement weather, it has without question made a whole host of cricket squares rather unpredictable to say the least. There are ways and means of counter action in such conditions, and all it needs is for batsmen to rediscover a word that seems to have dropped out of the dictionary these days and that word is quite simply ‘graft’.

Anyone disputing that should have seen the woeful collapse of the Glapwell batting at Burmah Road, Blidworth on Saturday when a team who almost won the championship last season were bundled out for just 54 runs! Everyone with one notable exception was looking for demons in a pitch that never existed and most of them were out from the moment they took guard.

Dan Willcock (2 for 14), Lee Wilson (2 for 22) and Richard Smith with an astonishing 6 for 8 simply put in on the spot and watched the Glapwell batsmen commit suicide. Five players were caught in the deep and three more we dismissed taking wild hoicks whilst just two might have had cause for complaint about the bounce from the wicket.

It was a pathetic and dismal display by a side who are much better than this, and Blidworth are to be congratulated for taking full advantage of an awful charade of an innings. Matt Hall with 22 runs was the only player to apply himself properly but even he perished in the deep with New Zealander Doug Winger picking up this and three more catches and making all of them look ridiculously easy.

Although they lost four wickets, Blidworth took their time and made sure that they made few mistakes as they passed the paltry target with six wickets to spare. Doug Winger who enjoyed a fine match was unbeaten with 20 and the old ‘war horse’ Ritchie Gibbons showed how to bat on this type of wicket with a patient 15.

Iain O’Brien captured three wickets for 21 runs, but even he couldn’t inspire his team out of the mess they had got themselves into. The main difference between the two sides on the day was that Blidworth had the heart and desire and wanted to play and it showed. Glapwell will be involved in the shake-up at the end of the season but with displays of this sort it will be at the opposite end of the table to what they occupied last season.

Killamarsh who have surprised everyone this season suffered their first defeat at the hands of neighbours Kiveton Park by five wickets at Station Road. Batting first Killamarsh were completely indebted to Sam Malpass who made a brilliant 94 in trying conditions that tested everyone. Malpass deserved a century but produced his only poor stroke after getting so near.

Richard Spurr (4 for 51) and Andy Maher the ‘Australian Express’ had his best figures since arriving here with 5 for 40 as Killamarsh were bowled out for disappointing 167.

With the wicket drying out, Kiveton had rather the best of things and Richard Grainger made full use of it scoring a superb 83 whilst Matty Cartwright gave good support with an assured 32. Kiveton coasted home on 169 for 5 and on the evidence of this will be a threat to everyone this season.

Marshalls excellent start to the season came to a startling and sudden halt as they were completely blown away by Cutthorpe by eight wickets at Middlefield Lane. Batting first, Marshalls were completely destroyed and bowled out for just 98 by Asadullah Butt (3 for 19) and Steve Chapman ( 4 for 18) and had it not been for Australian Gareth Yelland who made 54, one dreads to think how quickly the game would have been over.

This total was never going to be much of a task for Cutthorpe and when Andy Thompson (38) and Tim Barlow (31) cut loose it was very quickly all over as they reached 99 for 2. After an indifferent start, Cutthorpe are now beginning to make their presence felt and nobody should take them lightly. If they do it will be at their own peril.

Worksop’s good start ground to a halt at the hands of Cuckney but it was much closer than the scores suggested. Batting first Worksop made a rather disappointing 110 all out with Chris Taylor top scoring on 38 whilst Richard Stroh (4 for 26) and young off spinner Tom Ullyot helped himself to 4 for 14.

In reply, Cuckney reached 111 for 6 but that doesn’t really tell the whole story. Worksop were well into this game most of the time and had it not been for a very impressive 50 runs by Will Butler, Cuckney may well have lost this match.

Cuckney continue at the top of the league, but Worksop who were written off by many at the start of the campaign are certainly not the soft touch that many believed they would be. They will play worse than this and win.

Edwinstowe who have endured an abysmal start to the season managed a three wicket win over Bolsover in another low scoring encounter at Forest Corner. Batting first Bolsover could only reach 116 for 9 in their fifty overs and once again their batting underlined the enormous potential of their new Pakistani star Akram Khan who made a brilliant 54 in conditions which were not entirely conducive to flashy stroke play.

Shaun Bullin (5 for 36) and Asif Zakir (3 for 32) were the destroyers in chief as Edwinstowe looked to have taken a firm grip of the game.

This was not entirely the case however as Bolsover ‘fighting like tigers’, came back at them strongly and only a precious and extremely valuable 33 by Paul Peacock saw them home in a very tight finish. Eddie Grant with 4 for 20 was the best of the Bolsover attack in a good tight match which could have gone either way.

Farnsfield managed a comfortable five wicket success against Notts. & Arnold Amateurs who appear to be a side who lack consistency. Batting first Notts. & Arnold could only reach 149 for 9 and when one considers that skipper Ian Flood (64) and Joe Pallister (33) scored 97 between them it doesn’t say much for the rest.

This target was never going to be enough and Farnsfield with Dave Bell (59) in the starring role cruised to victory at 150 for 5. It seems that Notts. & Arnold are a team that you can never be quite sure which one will turn up, whilst Farnsfield are now up and running and may yet be the one to watch.

The match of the day in Division 2 was an absolute cracker between league leaders Whitwell and Bridon who after a shaky start at Eckington are beginning to make people sit up and take notice. For all the moaners about conditions it is worth taking a look at this one. 436 runs were scored in a brilliant game of cricket on a ground that had never been covered all week, simply because Whitwell don’t possess any! It just goes to show what can be done if you apply yourself properly.

Batting first Bridon made an excellent 220 for 9 with major contributions from Wayne Spooner (46), Will Lee (57) and Richard Topham (60 n.o.) leading the way. Nathan Morris (3 for 55) and Ian Dennis (3 for 55) took most of the wickets to fall, but this total looked to represent a good effort from Bridon.

Not that Whitwell were about to take this lying down and Alan Draycott once again led from the front making 60 and was well backed by Andy Shaw (50) as they began to turn the match around their way. However some fine bowling by Simon Davison (3 for 40) and Gareth Ellis (3 for 41) bit into the rest of the Whitwell batting and at the end they came up agonisingly short on 216 for 9. This was a game which was a credit to both sides and a tremendous advertisement for Division 2 cricket

Ransome and Marles continue their march towards supremacy at the top with a comfortable 109 run win over Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2^nd. Batting first Ransomes were indebted to Ian Sellars (74), Nigel Murray (42) and Rob Taylor (61) in the huge total of 239 for 5 as the Notts. & Arnold bowling was flayed to all parts of the ground.

In reply despite an excellent knock of 78 by Harvey Burton, Notts. & Arnold were dismissed for just 130 with Paul Taylor (5 for 35) and Gary Lambert (3 for 24) being the wreckers in chief. There is some way to go yet but Ransomes look rather tasty for promotion and its doubtful if any self respecting bookmaker would give you very good odds against them not doing it.

Mansfield & Pleasley are another side who certainly fancy their chances and why not after bunging Papplewick and Linby 2nds all back inside for just 48 paltry runs. Only Simon Roberts with 19 made double figures in a spectacular collapse that saw Darren Walker (4 for 21) and Ian Woodall (4 for 9) completely destroy Papplewick beyond repair.

Although losing four wickets, Mansfield & Pleasley were always in complete command and Matthew Page (15) top scored in the reply. Nagasair Sookram (3 for 17) certainly gave it his all but the total was undefendable and Ian Woodall and Pete Smith made sure their was no further mishaps as Mansfield and Pleasley strolled to victory.

When a side beats a side as good as Papplewick 2nds as convincingly as this it would be absolutely foolish to ignore them and the Mansfield & Pleasley side will not be far away when the honours are distributed at the end of the season.

A very young and inexperienced Farnsfield 2^nd side were completely blown away by Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd by seven wickets at Station Lane. Batting first Farnsfield were dismissed for just 76 and on a wicket as good as Station Lane is, that is an absolute travesty. Kyle Garside (4 for 8) and Darren Shepherd (4 for 18) totally destroyed the batting as Hosiery Mills went on the rampage.

This target proved totally inadequate and Hosiery Mills steamed to 81 for 3 with Andy Roberts (36 n.o.) showing he would rather hit boundaries than make the effort of running to the other end by clobbering 3 fours and 3 sixes in a tremendous cameo.

Eckington are another side who will be in the shake-up at the end of the season as they completely destroyed bottom club North Wheatley with Leverton at Staveley Lane by 115 runs.

Batting first Eckington made good use of another fine wicket scoring 218 for 7 when the overs ran out with James Daniel (63), Rob Carlile (60) and Tom Dawson (38 n.o.) leading the charge. Jamie Bovill used all his experience to take 3 for 58 in a good spell of bowling but the rest could not contain the Eckington firepower.

This never looked like being the day North Wheatley would start to turn things around as they sagged to just 103 all out. Tom Dawson (3 for 15) and Wayne Dye (3 for 24) totally wrecked the innings and Eckington are peering menacingly over the leaders shoulders. Don’t write them off.

Everton are now showing good form and once again the brilliant John Mimms led the way with a fabulous 65 as they reached 157 for 7 against Anston. Mimms was well supported by Simon Turner (37) and Ian Canning was the pick of the Anston attack taking 3 for 59 in a good spell of bowling.

In reply despite good efforts from Steve Maddock (43 n.o.) and Kevin Vollans (38), Anston were clinging on for dear life at 133 for 9 as Everton honed in on victory. Chris Woods (4 for 24) and John Waghorne (3 for 24) were the pick of the Everton attack but try as they may, they could not separate the last pair who held out for the draw.