Elliot's eighth century boosts Notts. & Arnold
by Paul Barker, 2nd September 2007

Facing a meagre total of 164 for 9, Notts. & Arnold Amateur romped to a nine wicket victory over relegated Ransome & Marles at Elm Avenue with the sensational Australian Tom Elliot blasting his way to his eighth league century of the season.

What makes matters even more amazing is that Elliot missed the first two matches of the season due to a registration mishap and another four owing to inclement weather. That meant that at the most he could only appear in sixteen matches, so he has scored a century in every other match, which is certainly some going.

The fellow from Geelong has certainly made his mark and will certainly go down amongst the finer players that have played in the league over the last twenty years.

Batting first Ransomes were quickly in trouble with three wickets falling cheaply and more quickly followed and at 100 for 7 one could easily have envisaged them being all out early. However some massive clean hitting by Matt Leggatt who made an unbeaten 57 which included four monumental sixes helped them reach 164 for 9 when the 50 overs ran out.

Ian Flood who took the first three wickets for just 28 runs was the thorn in the side of the Ransomes batting and they never recovered until the late partnerships added a bit of substance to the score.

Notts. & Arnold were then always in command as Elliot and Mark North added over 70 for the first wicket before the latter holed out in Cobb’s first over. This saw Joe Pallister join the Australian and there were no more problems as Elliot then cut loose with four huge sixes as he raced to 108 n.o. in brilliant style and his side reached 165 for 1 and victory.

Pallister was unbeaten on 27 although he was the benefactor of an abysmal decision by yours truly when he should have been given run-out. Elliot now has one more match next Saturday to reach his ninth century and you wouldn’t bet against him not doing it.

Worksop’s brave fight against relegation also came to an end at Central Avenue against Marshalls who took a winning draw in a hard fought match. Batting first, Marshalls were well served by skipper Paul Van den Heuvel with 65 and Mark Davies (42) as they amassed a reasonable total of 207 for 8.

In reply, Worksop knew they had to win to have any chance of saving themselves from the relegation trapdoor but they could only manage 175 for 9 at the close.

Tim Ward (37 n.o.) was their top scorer whilst Andrew Coles (3 for 34) and Darren Andrews (3 for 24) kept a tight rein on the Worksop batting. If Worksop had shown the fight and guts they produced in the second half of the season they might well have prevented this but their skipper Luke Ambrose told me he was very proud of the way the team had kept fighting until the end, and stated that there stay in Division 2 would be short if they could keep up the form they had shown in the latter half of this season.

Champions Cuckney made it 794 runs for just six wickets lost in their last two matches when they secured a winning draw against Bridon at Ordsall. Once again two Cuckney players reached century’s with Steve Bentley who has had his best season ever this term making a brilliant 112 and skipper Will Butler a tremendous 139 n.o. For once, sarcastically speaking, Richard Stroh was a failure – he only made 62 as Cuckney piled up a massive 361 for 4.

Former skipper in Bridon’s glory days, Gareth Jones told me it seemed like the longest 50 overs in history as the ball kept sailing to the boundary repeatedly. Bridon were quickly in trouble and had slumped to 24 for 4 before youngster Will Lee with a superb 55, and Gareth Jones bringing all his experience to fruition with a very dependable 35 saw them close on 167 for 9. The points gained made Bridon safe and credit is due to them having survived after promotion without a professional. Not many sides could have managed this and it showed the spirit that evolves in the Bridon camp.

The closest match of the day took place at Kiveton Park where the home side and Cutthorpe shared a drawn match, which yielded 533 runs with only eleven wickets lost between them. Batting first Cutthorpe piled up a staggering 269 for 5 with Asadullah Butt back to his brilliant best with a superb 82. Excellent support came from Tim Barlow (69) and the ultra talented Matt Cluer who was unbeaten on 54 as the fifty overs were completed.

Kiveton replied with 264 for 6, only failing by six runs to pull off a memorable victory. Once again their Sri-Lankan star, Harsha Cooray who made a magnificent 102 and Richard Grainger (63) almost took them to a fabulous victory but good bowling when it mattered by the Cutthorpe attack in which Farhan Ayub (3 for 62) was the pick, just managed to tilt the balance in his side’s favour.  

Bolsover stay in second place owing to a 96 run win over Glapwell. Batting first Bolsover made 204 all out with Mark Bull (44), Andy Rodgers (44) and Chris Pemberton (43) all making significant contributions. For the second consecutive week Nick Bircumshaw was the Glapwell bowling hero taking 4 for 24 in an excellent spell.

This proved to be more than enough as Glapwell were bowled out for just 108 with only Lee Topham (50) making much of a fist of things with the bat. Hasnan Kazim (4 for 24) and Tom Taylor (3 for 40) were the Bolsover bowlers in form and they kept the form going in what has been probably their best season ever.

With New Zealander Chris Spring (33) top scoring at Station Lane, Thoresby Colliery must have known there 179 all out total was never going to be enough to see off the challenge of Farnsfield. It was one of Farnsfield’s crop of talented youngsters who again did most of the damage with 15 year-old slow bowler James Smith helping himself to 4 for 38. Ever reliable Mark Sillcock provided solid support taking 3 for 33 and one got the impression that this pair had done a fine job.

This assumption turned out to be 100% correct as Rashid Riaz playing his last game before returning to Pakistan made a majestic 79 before getting stumped and Dave Bell (41) helped Farnsfield along to 183 for 5 and victory by five wickets.

It’s all change at the top of Division 2 again with Edwinstowe beating Papplewick & Linby 2^nd very easily to leapfrog them to the summit of the table. Batting first Papplewick were blasted out for just 137 with only Matt Dear (29) who top scored making any impact whatsoever. The Edwinstowe attack fired on all cylinders with Richard Gombos (3 for 18), Mohammad Wajihuddin (3 for 25) and Shaun Bullin (2 for 41) all proving a menace to the Papplewick batsmen.

In reply Edwinstowe sailed to victory with Jeff Appleton (51) and Mohammad Wajihuddin (63 n.o.) helping their side to 139 for 2 and victory by eight wickets. Only Robin Rhodes (2 for 34) carried any threat as Papplewick slid down to third place.

Waleswood moved up to second place with a 50 run win over relegated Everton, but it was nowhere near as easy as it looked. Batting first, Waleswood were in all kinds of trouble until the later order batsmen helped them to a not so very convincing 137 all out. Rana Raus (48 n.o.) was certainly the hero of the hour, whilst Chris Woods (4 for 49) and young slow bowler Simon Peck (3 for 25) kept Waleswood in trouble throughout.

However what one had not considered was that if Waleswood had struggled, it was possible that Everton might as well and that turned out to be the case. They were bowled out for just 87, with Jason Clarke (3 for 10) and Abdul Kiar (3 for 14) causing all kinds of problems that were insurmountable to the Everton batsmen.

Still any two from three are in the running and the final matches next Saturday will be awaited with baited breath.

It is just the same at the bottom with Everton already relegated but any one of six teams still in the frame. Despite a hard fight Caythorpe 2nds slumped to defeat against Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd and at the present minute occupy the second bottom rung on the ladder. Batting first Caythorpe made a rather derisory 143 all out with only Peter Mansfield (50) holding up Kyle Garside (5 for 49) to any degree.

Not that Hosiery Mills found it easy as eight wickets had departed before the winning hit was made. The talented Gareth Curtis top scored with 40 and good support came from Ben Rossi (31) whilst Andrew Staszkiewicz (3 for 27) caused them the most trouble before the score wobbled to 144 for 8 and victory.

Another team still in the shake-up are Mansfield & Pleasley and they did their cause a power of good with a twenty pointer against Blidworth at Chesterfield Road. Blidworth despite a fine knock of 63 by Dave Willcock were dismissed for just 138 with Darren Walker (3 for 31) and Australian Brad Stengstock (6 for 36) completely wrecking the innings between them.

Stengstock has come good towards the end of the season and had he performed like this all the way through, his side might well have been challenging at the top rather than looking anxiously over their shoulder at what the other teams are doing. Along with Matt Page (63 n.o.), Stengstock made an unbeaten 67 as Mansfield & Pleasley sailed to victory on 140 for 1 by nine wickets.

Anston relieved their fears somewhat with a winning draw over North Wheatley with Leverton. Batting first Anston reached 220 for 7 after a rather nervy start with the hard-hitting Andrew Ruczenczyn unbeaten on 68 at the finish. Good support was added by Michael Norbury (49) and Mark Parkinson (43) whilst Jamie Bovill (3 for 52) showed he could still do it.

Facing this target, North Wheatley finished on 167 for 8 and are back amongst the pack at the bottom. Dave Waller (62), Dave Wilcox (35 n.o.) were the two batsmen who saved them from an even worse fate whilst Ian Barley (3 for 63) was the pick of the Anston attack.

Whitwell were caned for the highest score of the day when Eckington smashed their wilting attack for a massive 315 for 2 at Staveley Lane. South African Ian O’Neill who goes back home this Wednesday made a fantastic 149 and Andy Lee a superb 126 as runs flowed like a tap that couldn’t be turned off. In reply Whitwell never looked in any danger of defeat and closed on 194 for 5 with Alan Draycott (42 n.o., Tom Chester (45) and Carl Curran (37 n.o.) all batting well. Tom Dawson (3 for 32) was the pick of his side’s attack but this wicket was another true Eckington one where the batsmen were always likely to be on top.