Worksop make excellent start
by Paul Barker, 30th April 2006

Determined to ram it down people’s throats about being relegation favourites, Worksop made a superb start to their season by gaining a winning draw over Kiveton Park at Central Avenue on Saturday. The loss of Richard Grainger (back to Kiveton Park) and Paul Burton’s retirement seemed to leave them rather thin on the ground but skipper Steve Bentley seems to have injected a will to win and a terrific team spirit into them and whilst it is early days yet this performance certainly gives them cause for optimism.

Batting first Worksop made a solid 204 for 6 in their fifty overs with Mark Ambrose (52) and Chris Taylor (64) leading the charge. This was consolidated by a good 30 from Glen Pym and as the overs ran out Worksop must have been quietly satisfied with their work.

Kiveton made a strong reply and but for an unfortunate injury to Matty Cartwright who had to retire hurt on 53 might have won the day. As it was Richard Spurr made a belligerent 47 but wickets fell at regular intervals and Kiveton were holding on at 163 for 8 at stumps.

The Worksop star was Ramesh Sanjay who did such a fine job for them in the second half of the season last term, and he was at it again taking 6 for 33 in a good spell of medium paced bowling which gave Worksop a perfect start after being rained off last week.

A side who look a decidedly different proposition to the one they put out last term is Killamarsh who destroyed promoted Bolsover by six wickets at Villas Road. Batting first Bolsover made 196 all out which is only adequate on a ground where big scores are usually the norm.

Mark Bull (38) and the hard hitting Steve Wooley (71) were the mainstays of the Bolsover batting but one always had the feeling that a score of around 250 at the very least was needed to make Killamarsh struggle. Peter Allen (3 for 18) and Nalika De Silva (3 for 52) bowled superbly and in addition to this De Silva made one of the finest catches ever seen on the Villas Road ground and this was still not the end of his day.

The assumption that this score was not enough proved to be 100% correct as Adam Burgess (66 n.o.) and De Silva (65) saw Killamarsh cruise to victory with plenty of overs to spare. Killamarsh are likely to be a threat to everyone this time and when one considers that their registered overseas player Pramuka Sudesh Liyanage has not arrived yet they look to be a match for all comers. We will have to wait and see.

Last year’s runners up, Glapwell managed a losing draw against Cuckney who are strongly fancied to do well this time in a hard fought match at Park Avenue. Batting first Cuckney were very much indebted to Will Butler who batted quite brilliantly hitting eleven fours and two sixes in a magnificent 88. This score made all the difference, as the next highest one in a fifty overs total of 183 for 8 was a paltry 17 runs.

Iain O’Brien (2 for 27), Matt Hall (2 for 48), Dean Graney (2 for 19) and Lewis Saxby (2 for 33) shared the wickets between them as Glapwell gave a good account of themselves in the field.

A ridiculous run out which saw the end of Lee Topham got Glapwell away to an horrendous start and when Matt Hall was bowled by Andy Stephenson they looked to be on the rack. A good partnership between Dean Graney (32) and Nick Truswell (44) gave Glapwell hope but after reaching 100, wickets fell regularly before a sensible knock by Phil Matthews (34 n.o.) saw them pick up a second vital batting point.

South African Richard Stroh took 2 for 39 and veteran Cliff Adwick (2 for 27) were the best of the Cuckney attack but Glapwell stood firm on 162 for 7 at the close.

Edwinstowe who were many people’s favourites at the start of the season went down to a second defeat in as many matches as they were thumped by seven wickets by Cutthorpe. Only skipper Paul Benson (48) and John Garnham (36) truly applied themselves to the job in hand as Asadullah Butt (4 for 36) limited them to just 158 for 9 when the overs ran out.

This proved no obstacle to Cutthorpe as Andy Thompson at his imperious best made an unbeaten 92 and Asadullah Butt chipped in with 36 as they reached 160 for 3 with plenty of overs to spare. Edwinstowe need to get on song quickly, whilst Cutthorpe were infinitely better than their disappointing display of the previous week.

Another side who many fancy are Farnsfield but they failed to deliver at Marshalls and the home side must have been extremely pleased to register a winning draw in a good game. Batting first, Marshalls were well served by their new Australian star Gareth Yelland who made an excellent 91 whilst Dave Bell (3 for 31) was the best of the Farnsfield attack. The final total of 218 for 9 represented a good effort by the Gainsborough side.

It proved to be enough as Farnsfield clung on at 191 for 9 at the close. Skipper Andy Edwards made a fine 59 but Marshalls’ new recruit Ian Dewhurst took another three wicket haul this time at a personal cost of just 24 runs for the second consecutive week.

A close thriller at Blidworth saw Notts. & Arnold Amateurs gain a narrow winning draw against the home side. Notts. & Arnold were well served by Jeff Ainger (51) and skipper Ian Flood (76) as they piled up an impressive 207 for 9. Blidworth skipper Dave Wood was the pick of their attack with 5 for 60 in a good controlled spell.

In reply Blidworth made a bold effort scoring 181 for 9 at stumps. New Zealander Doug Winger made an impressive 37, and Andy Norwood batted well for his 33, but Ian Flood who enjoyed a fine all round game weighed in with 3 for 38 and received good support from Scott Leivers with 3 for 40.

In Division 2, Ransome and Marles who missed promotion by a single point last season look as though they have set out not to make any mistake this time around with a nine wicket win over Everton. Batting first, Everton could make only 135 all out, with the hugely talented John Mimms contributing 53 of them. This was mainly due to the fact that Gary Lambert (3 for 31) and Paul Taylor who bagged 5 for 24 including a hat-trick were miles too good for them.

In reply it was so very easy for Ransomes as South African Francis Le Clus (75 n.o.) and Nigel Murray (46 n.o.) steered them to 136 for 1 in quick time to give them maximum points after two matches.

Another side who have gained maximum points in this division is Whitwell after their latest demolition job over Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2nd by five wickets. Batting first Hosiery Mills made a rather inadequate looking 161 all out in which only the barnstorming Sam Butler (71) batted anything like his true potential. Nathan Morris (3 for 16) and Andrew Shaw (3 for 52) were the pick of a Whitwell attack that exuded confidence in the field.

Whitwell then showed how it should be done scoring 162 for 5 with skipper Alan Draycott in top form with 78 well crafted runs as his side kept up their good start.

Another side who look rather capable are Mansfield and Pleasley and they recorded a massive 138 run win over a hapless Farnsfield 2nd at Station Lane. Batting first Mansfield and Pleasley reached a huge 230 for 7 with skipper Darren Walker (64), Anthony Timpson (60) and Ian Woodall (40 n.o.) leading the way whilst Pete Wood (3 for 50) bowled well against this aggressive onslaught.

Farnsfield made quite an impressive start and with Trevor West (51) in particular batting very well looked comfortable at 81 for 2, but then the wheels fell off completely. From this position of strength they were bowled out for just 92 runs in a collapse of epic proportions. Darren Walker with 5 for 7 kept his good start to the season going and has now taken six wickets for just 12 runs this campaign.

Eckington who have flirted close to promotion for a few seasons now, got away to a good start with a winning draw against relegated Bridon at Staveley Lane. Batting first their New Zealand import Jason Garrick led the way with a sparkling unbeaten 64 and Simon West weighed in with an unbeaten 36 as they reached 210 for 7 when the overs ran out. Darren Spooner (4 for 35) bowled tidily for Bridon in an impressive stint.

Despite a useful start, Bridon tailed off to 171 for 7 with only Wayne Spooner (59) troubling an Eckington attack in which slow left armer Wayne Dye (4 for 40) was the most penetrative bowler.

North Wheatley with Leverton slumped to a heavy seven wicket defeat at the hands of Papplewick 2nd at South Wheatley. Batting first only Dave Waller (39) and James Blackwell (31) looked comfortable as North Wheatley were dismissed for just 122 with Jonathan Thrower (3 for 26) and Wasim Rana (3 for 11) doing the damage.

This total proved totally insignificant as Papplewick raced to victory at 123 for 3 with Tim Clarke batting brilliantly for his 55 runs. On this evidence Papplewick will again trouble the very best this season.

The final match in this section saw a brilliant win for Anston over Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2nd in a high scoring thriller at Goosedale Lane. Batting first Notts and Arnold made full use of an excellently prepared track making 230 for 5 with Mark North (75), Robbie Cooke (46) and Haravinda Bhaker (31) playing some fine shots as the scoreboard rattled along at a fearsome pace.

It was not to be however as Anston threw down the gauntlet and chased this huge total till victory was achieved with several overs to spare. They finally arrived at 234 for 5 with Michael Norbury being dreadfully unlucky not to reach a century as he closed on 98 n.o. as victory was achieved. Great support came from Mark Parkinson who made an impressive 40 in a tremendous team performance.