Killamarsh cut the deficit after thriller
by Paul Barker, 30th July 2006

In a riveting encounter at Sheffield Road, anything was possible as Parmindar Mudhar commenced what was to be a dramatic final over in the match between Killamarsh and Notts. & Arnold Amateur.  Killamarsh had made a highly respectable 246 for 3 earlier with Paul Burdett (57), Steve Ludlam (42 n.o.) providing excellent support to the brilliant Adam Burgess who put together a magnificent unbeaten 124.

Notts. & Arnold quickly showed that they were in no mood to roll over and die and superbly led by their ‘Captain courageous’, Ian Flood, they set about the Killamarsh attack with a fearsome assault which looked like succeeding for most of the innings.

And then came this eventful over! At the start of it Notts. & Arnold needed six runs to win with two wickets in hand and when they took a single off the first ball to put Flood on strike the odds were very much in their favour. Flood connected with a vicious pull and with the ball looking a certainty for a boundary six and victory, Chris Hopkinson produced a magnificent catch on the mid wicket boundary and the Arnold skipper departed for a marvellous 119. Worse was to follow for Notts. & Arnold as Mudhar clean bowled Paul Murphy with the next ball and Killamarsh had miraculously pulled off a four run win.

Killamarsh skipper Adrian Rivington was understandably jubilant that his side had took 20 points but conceded that he was sure Flood had won the match when he connected with the pull to mid wicket. He was also at pains to point out that 488 runs had been scored for only 13 wickets lost on a pitch that has been heavily criticised by some this season. On the evidence of this match he certainly looks to have a point!

Farnsfield continue at the top and once again they posted the enormous total of 335 for 3 as Glapwell wilted under the pressure. James Bennett (42) and Paul Delaney (70) got Farnsfield away to another excellent start and their good work was carried on by the elegant Rashid Riaz who made a sparkling unbeaten 130 and Paul Franks who bludgeoned 77 runs in just eleven overs at the crease. Riaz was simply awesome and played shots all around the wicket, but what batsman wouldn’t enjoy performing on this magnificent strip?

In reply Glapwell settled for a draw concluding on 184 for 6 which was possibly the sensible option. Iain O’Brien (56) top scored and other major contributions came from Lee Topham (37), and Nick Truswell (40) but their was no stopping Rashid Riaz on this day and to add to his runs he chipped in with 3 for 25 in a good stint of off spin bowling.

Cutthorpe completely dominated their match at at the Recreation Ground beating Bolsover by a massive 101 runs. Batting first, Cutthorpe looked totally in command with Andy Thompson (36) and Nigel Kingham (33) both batting exceptionally well but getting out when well set. The thorn in the Cutthorpe side was one of their ex players Andy Pierrepont who took the first four wickets at a personal cost of 61 runs from 15 overs.

The sluggish start by Asadullah Butt looked as though Bolsover might well keep the Cutthorpe score to reasonable levels but an all out assault by the Pakistani star changed everything over the closing overs. Once he decided to cut loose it was virtually impossible to bowl to Butt who literally savaged everything fired at him before Chris Pemberton bowled him for a brilliant 72. Cutthorpe’s final total of 229 for 7 looked to be a lot more than Bolsover expected at one stage and Butt was certainly the main reason for that.

The Bolsover reply got away to a good start with Akram Khan and Mark Bull coping comfortably with everything delivered at them until the former chased a widish delivery from Andy Knowles and was smartly pouched by wicket-keeper Tim Barlow. At this point wickets started to fall steadily but it was the introduction of Nigel Kingham into the attack that changed everything.

In a devastating spell of slow bowling which was gun-barrel straight with no turn, Kingham picked up 5 for 12 and completely destroyed the Bolsover innings as they caved in at 128 all out. Only Andy Rogers (33) and Mark Bull offered much resistance as Bolsover folded like a pack of cards to give Cutthorpe maximum points.

Kiveton Park and Worksop produced a tight drawn match at Stone Close with the home side emerging with the lion’s share of the points. Batting first Kiveton posted a score of 233 for 7 which in hindsight should have been even more. Ashley Rhodes (48) and skipper Rob Coxon (55 n.o.) dominated the innings whilst Ramesh Sanjay (3 for 65) was the best of the Worksop attack.

This score did look a challenging one and with Glen Pym (47), Luke Ambrose (59) and Ramesh Sanjay (45) Worksop finished on 205 for 7 and with a little more adventure shown might have got even closer. On many grounds Kiveton’s total would have been regarded as a good one, but on this wicket which is probably second only to Farnsfield’s it did look a little on the light side and they were probably a shade lucky to get away with it. 

Cuckney piled up a monstrous 298 for 6 against struggling Edwinstowe with Will Butler leading from the front with a brilliant 141 and receiving great support from Richard Stroh who was unlucky to fall four runs short of his century on 96.

One would have thought that in Edwinstowe’s lowly position they might have thrown more caution to the wind even though they made a commendable 222 for 4. Asif Zakir (123 n.o.), Craig Saxelby (36) and John Garnham (48 n.o.) all batted well but with every point being vital one might have expected them with six wickets in hand to have really thrown everything at Cuckney. However the home side’s attack did a good job but Edwinstowe might look back at the end of the season and think that this was a chance lost even facing such a huge total.

The top of the table clash in Division 2 saw Ransome and Marles gain a winning draw over leaders Bridon in a strange match at Elm Avenue. Ransome were once again well served by their superb South African, Francois Le Clus who made a tremendous 82 but after a good start they lost their way a little and closed out on 211 for 8 with Darren Spooner making deep inroads with 5 for 43.

Bridon’s reply takes a bit of working out as they finished only 45 runs short of victory on 167 for 4 with six wickets in hand and two batsmen Rob McLeod (82 n.o.) and Chris Ward (40 n.o.) looking in prime form. Whether they had a long tail and were rather sceptical how the rest would perform is open to question, but to the onlooker, they would seem to have had this game in the bag and Ransomes look as though they played there ‘Get out of Jail free’ card and it worked. Ah well such are the vagaries of this great game, cricket.

Eckington simply refuse to be shaken off by the top pairing and picked up a further twenty points after a 147 demolition job on Farnsfield 2^nd at Staveley Lane. Once again the Eckington wicket was a ‘batsman’s paradise’ and Karl Fields (71), Matt Craddock (43), Simon West (42) and Rob Carlile (31) used it to maximum effect as they piled up a mammoth 267 for 8. Chris Dunne (4 for 51), and Mike Bell (3 for 51) both bowled exceptionally well for an overworked Farnsfield attack.

From this point it was simply ‘no contest’ as Farnsfield folded at 120 all out. Dave Barton (3 for 34), Rob Carlile (3 for 11), Simon West (2 for 26) and Tom Dawson (2 for 6) were simply ‘too much’ for the Farnsfield batsmen and this Eckington side just refuse to be ignored. Their big test will come when they make the visit to Ordsall to meet Bridon next Saturday. This is a huge match for both sides and whoever wins this one will certainly have a case to state.

Don’t rule out Whitwell yet! They simply refuse to go away also and they completely annihilated Papplewick & Linby 2^nd by 74 runs at the Rookery to keep their hopes alive. Batting first Whitwell were not as fluent with the bat as they have been in recent weeks and must have felt rather grateful to Australian Heath Bush who made an extremely vital 44 out of an all out total of 184.

Papplewick then launched themselves into an excellent start and at 91 for 4 appeared to be sitting pretty but then it all went so very wrong. Nineteen runs later on 110 they were all out in a collapse of epic proportions. When one considers that Steve Thomas made 61 it certainly doesn’t say very much for the rest although credit must go to Andy Shaw (3 for 30), Darren Westerby (4 for 22) and Ian Dennis (3 for 11). However with ten players contributing only 47 runs between them it does seem a rather poor effort and Papplewick will want to forget this debacle very quickly.

It would seem that these columns and Jon Mimms performances for Everton are featured week after week but as the old saying goes ‘you simply can’t keep a good man down’ and he plastered another sensational 123 runs against Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd at The Metcalf Ground. Rob Nicholas gave great support with 54 and youngster Nathan Flowers nipped in with an excellent 3 for 58 as Everton’s innings closed at a mighty 240 for 5.

However on this occasion, Hosiery Mills found their touch with the bat and pulled off a staggering four wicket win as they reached 241 for 6. Jeff Appleton (50), Andy Roberts (42), Steve Gooding (85) and the bludgeoning bat of Sam Butler (38) blasted Hosiery Mills to an astonishing victory with only Mark Anthony (3 for 44) providing any respite for Everton. One must feel a little sympathetic for Mimms who certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side in this encounter.

Mansfield & Pleasley remain on the promotion fringes and they did their cause no harm at all when they saw off the challenge of Anston by seven wickets at Chesterfield Road. Batting first Anston reached a rather modest looking 168 for 8 as the overs ran out with Neil Carter (37) and Kevin Vollans (31) propping up the innings. Anthony Timpson (3 for 43) and Ian Woodall (3 for 47) did most of the damage and it wasn’t the last that we heard of this pair in this match.

In a robust reply, Mansfield & Pleasley easily reached 172 for 3 and the dynamic duo were certainly at it again as Timpson (50) and Woodall (73 n.o.) saw them confirm an easy victory. It would seem they have a little too much to do to get amongst the leading pack but don’t rule them out as they are easily capable of causing an upset and will probably do that at least once before the season ends.

Nothing seems to be going right for Notts. & Arnold Amateur 2^nd and they sank to another defeat against lowly rivals North Wheatley with Leverton at Goosedale. This time they batted much better than of late making 209 all out with Greg Martin (87), Harry Bhaker (38) and Adam Charles (30) all performing extremely well. Robin Hackney (4 for 34) and Jamie Bovill (3 for 43) were the destroyers in chief.

Even that was not enough though as a well crafted knock of 95 by Dave Waller gave North Wheatley twenty points which will help them in their quest to avoid relegation. Sadly their opponents Notts. & Arnold are looking doomed but they are a side who will continue to fight until the very end and nobody can ask any more of them than that.