Bottesford curse lack of bowling strength
by Phil Johnson, 19th June 2006

In Division A there was a must win game between the bottom two sides Bottesford and Plumtree and for the second week running Bottesford will be left cursing their lack of strength in their bowling department. The home elected to bat and set a challenging 250 for victory thanks to rising star Nick Silverwood (85*).

Bottesford seemed to be in control for most of Plumtree’s reply and with 12 overs remaining the visitors required 100 for victory. However, the lack of a fifth bowling option cost the home side dearly and the combination of a superbly timed unbeaten century from Steve James and some hard hitting from Nigel Finney (50*) saw the visitors home in the penultimate over.

At the summit, Calverton (197 for 7) remain top following an 18 point winning draw at home to Attenborough (144 for 9). The visitors will be desperately disappointed at their start to the season considering they finished runners up in 2005. 

The day just got better for Calverton with news of another setback for nearest challengers Collingham (213 for 6) who could only muster 9 points in a losing draw at Balderton (224 for 8). What really stuck the knife in for the visitors was the fact it that it was their ex player Dominic Wiffin who did most of the damage for the home side with a brilliant 146. Elsewhere, Ellerslie (266 for 8) moved into mid table with a crushing 110 run victory at home to Radcliffe, the much travelled Gavin Johnson grabbing five wickets.

There are new leaders in B as Newstead Village (226 for 9) suffered a losing draw at home to local rivals Rolls Royce (271 for 9) who had Gordon (87) and Kevin Pearson (4 for 82) in fine form. Replacing Gotham at the top are Southwell who, if they get promoted, will owe a huge debt of gratitude to Stephen Wright who picked up his third consecutive five wicket haul. The home side thrashed bottom club Bramcote (78) who have collected just one point in the last three games.

Loughborough Carillon remain third following a crushing eight wicket success at home to Gotham (81), Mayur Keshwala celebrating his return to the side with five wickets, and there were runs at last for Kimberley’s David Adams (80*) and Vaughan Hamilton (74) as they helped their side to a seven wicket win at struggling West Bridgfordians (193 for 8).

The top of the table clash in Division C was a close as anticipated, Attenborough II (189 for 8) just failing to chase down leaders Kirkby Portland target of 195 for victory, Attenborough had James Mayfield taking 6 for 55. Keyworth (251 for 6) stay third following an easy victory over Hucknall (135), Ian Graham (5 for 31) and Rob Baker (4 for 53) adding to their impressive tally for the season so far.

Belvoir had the distinction of racking up the second highest total in the leagues history. The fourth placed team set a target of 391 thanks to veteran Andy Mitchell (125) and 17 year old Tom Neville (125*). That wasn’t the end of the scoring and the centuries as visitors West Indian Caribs replied with 315, new signing Arslan Shah striking 104.

From looking secure at the top in Division D a couple of weeks ago, Radcliffe seconds lost their second successive game and in turn slip out of the promotion picture. Their latest reversal was a tense seven run defeat at home to Long Whatton (189) who had Australian Jamie Allen (70) returning to form, earlier Radcliffe’s Ken Stewart had snaffled up another six wickets.

Wilsons (160) replace Radcliffe at the top following a 12 run victory at home to Farndon. No nails left there though as Farndon’s last pair of Richard Pinder (43*) and Thoams Hill (21) had put on 63 for the last wicket. Hickling (191 for 4) move to second , easily chasing down Thurgarton’s target thanks to Wayne Daniell (54*) and Andrew Clarke (46).

In Division E, Calverton required 4 runs for victory off the final delivery at home to leaders Willoughby (204 for 8), however they could only manage a couple despite the best efforts of Mark Haseman who had bludgeoned a quick fire 38.

Elsewhere in E it was an excellent day for the bottom two sides. Firstly Stanton and Awsworth were in deep trouble chasing Underwood’s 125, however an unbroken seventh wicket stand between Matt Winfield (54) and Richard Barnes (41) saw the team home to their first victory of the season. Awsworth remain bottom though as their was a surprise win for Risley (156 for 5) over high riding Southwell II (154), Mark Addison (64*) top scoring for the winners.

The top two clashed in Division F and it was Lady Bay Boots (152 for 8) who came out on top to condemn a first defeat on leaders  Nuthall (150), Mohammed Nadeem striking an unbeaten 56 for the winners. Unity Casuals had made a fine start to the season but have now lost their last four games, the latest being a 41 run reversal at West Bridgford Legion (162 for 5), ex Bramcote man Chris Ludden  hitting 62 and Darren Shaw taking 6 for 28.

Another fine all round performance from Bramcote II’s Mel Wood was the highlight in F, the veteran made an unbeaten 63 and also weighed in with four wickets but it still wasn’t enough as visiting Wymeswold (213) triumphed by 20 runs to leave the home side bottom.

In Division G, Caythorpe III remain top after a nine wicket win at  Gedling and Sherwood II (79). Elsewhere, Joe Ablewhite of  Bottesford was in the runs again, this time with 72 as his team set a target of 183 against Snibston Grange who fell 6 runs short, the winners stay third. One century in the division and that went to Neil Hanwick (102) of Epperstone who helped his side to a 39 run victory over Gotham Village (181 for 8) to climb to fourth in the league.

There are new leaders in Division H as Cotgrave (160) came a cropper at mid table Chilwell (214 for 6). Hoveringham replace Cotgrave at the summit following a five wicket victory in an excellent game at fellow promotion hopefuls Kinoulton (230 for 5). Steve Harling had made 86 in the home sides demanding target, however for once it was father Nick Walton who made the headlines for the leaders with 61 and together with ex Caythorpe man Ben Lee (55) saw their side home.

There is no stopping Loughborough Carillon II at the top in J as Australian Ben Webb made 78 in their sides 216 for 8 , in reply Sutton Bonnington skipper Dave Appleby scored a valiant 74 in a losing cause as the Bumpus brothers, Chris (5 for 36) and Simon (4 for 51) shared the honours. Gladstone (239 for 5) replace Oxton in second after a  41 run success, Aklam Hussain and Simon Taylor both recording fifties and Lee Hawke again starring with the ball with five wickets.

In K the clash of the top two lived up to its billing as Carrington Cavaliers (132) and Lambley fought out a thrilling tie, Dan Mercer and Phil Bowles taking four wickets apiece for Lambley. At the other end of the table, there was more misery for Stanton By Dale II who could be in real danger of slipping to their fourth successive relegation. The home side must have thought they were in with a scent of victory after Brian Taylor had made an undefeated 102 out of his teams 231 for 3. However, on their tiny ground, Belvoir’s consistent run scorer Richard Flower Snr (85*) and Mark Ebb (55) knocked the runs off for the loss of only three wickets.

A change at the top in L as Burton Joyce (89) slipped up at Basford Hall OB (145 for 9) who climb to second. Flintham (195 for 6) who beat Nottingham Victoria (131) are the new leaders.

There would have been glum faces around the tea table at Breaston as visiting Woodborough could only muster 65. However a fantastic bowling performance from Matt Lane and Phil Wilson who took five wickets each enabled the visitors to shoot Breaston out for 35!!

Clifton Village III (345 for 8) look set for another promotion, this time from Division M, their latest success being a hammering 238 run victory over Willoughby II, Peter Fairhall (97*) and Luke Gunn (85) the main contributors. Share some sympathy for Old Paviors Gavin Lewis who was dismissed one short of a century, at least he had some consolation as his side cruised to a 93 run victory over bottom club Lambley II (127).

No change in Division N as Caythorpe IV (161) saw off the challenge of Plumtree III (113). No doubting the performance of the day though, that came for second placed Farndon II for whom Rob Curtis struck an astonishing 149 out of his side’s 192. Not to be outdone however, brother John chipped in with four wickets as visiting Snibston Grange fell 63 runs short.

The days best bowling performance came in P as Lowdham II’s Bob Wallace grabbed 8 for 29 in a 91 run success over Ruddington II (109), the win extends Lowdhams stay at the top. Elsewhere Poplars long serving Kevin Stephenson produced a fine individual performance of 44 and 6 for 17 to help his side record an 80 run victory over struggling Beeston II (110).

Its as you were in Division R, however both the top two sides were defeated. Broad Street Arrows slipped to a four wicket defeat against Thrumpton III (126 for 6) whilst Kimberley IV (145 for 9) were beaten by six wickets at Shepshed IV, Anton Myers producing the game winning performance with an unbeaten 74.

Other highlights in R came at West Bridgford Legion II where Ian Buckley struck 112 in his team comfortable victory over Edingley II, and Collingham’s Lee Bowditch took 5 for 7 to enable his side to turn the game around as visiting Kirkby Portland III, chasing only 72 for victory, collapsed to 50 all out.