Cuckney move to the top
by Paul Barker, 13th May 2007

On a day where the weather had a big say in proceedings, Cuckney took over at the top of the table as they crushed Marshalls by a 106 run margin at Langwith Road. Batting first, all the Cuckney contingent looked in good form and runs came right down the order which is of course exactly what is wanted from any side. Kunil Jogea (79), Daniel Brown (47), skipper Will Butler (43) and Steve Bentley (30) all weighed in with good scores as Cuckney rattled along to a very impressive 262 for 6.

This score never even looked likely to be threatened and Marshalls were dismissed for just 156 with skipper Paul Van den Heuval (47) and Australian import Andrew Coles (41) being the only two on top of their game.

It always pays to have a varied attack and Cuckney have just that as well with Richard Stroh taking 4 for 40 and slow bowler Steve Randall helping himself to 3 for 40. Randall has proved to be quite a good capture and has taken three wickets in every match this season which is quite a haul.

Kiveton Park who were top of the table, kept up their unbeaten start to the season with their fourth consecutive win but in doing so only gained sixteen points. There latest conquest saw them achieve a hard fought three wicket win over Ransome & Marles who seem to be looking a bit in the bowling department.

Batting first Ransomes managed 205 for 2, but as skipper Gary Lambert told me ‘This sort of score isn’t quite enough to feel comfortable with in Division 1’. Ian Sellars top scored with an unbeaten 107 and their South African recruit Henno Jordaan made 54 but it proved to be all in vain.

In reply, Kiveton lost more wickets but moved the score along quicker although there was little time left for manoeuvre when the winning runs were scored. Sri-Lankan Harsha Cooray who has proved to be a major success up to now made a superb 85 and despite a good spell of bowling from Rob Taylor who took 4 for 44, Kiveton eased home on 207 for 7 to keep the pressure on Cuckney.

Talking of major successes have a look at the average of Notts. & Arnold Amateur’s Australian import Tom Elliot. Can’t find one? Well you won’t, because although he has scored 293 runs in two visits to the crease he hasn’t been out yet, hence no average! Their match at Glapwell however was shrouded with controversy and after the home side had batted first and reached 194 for 5 which barely seemed enough Notts. & Arnold scrambled home by nine wickets in a terrific finish.

Skipper Matt Hall (66) and Lee Topham (45) top scored for Glapwell with Mohammed Bilal (2 for 46) and Scott Leivers (2 for 48) both bowling tidy spells for Notts. & Arnold. As previously stated the score looked a little bit flimsy and a lot of credit must go to the Notts. & Arnold attack for keeping it so tight in less than helpful conditions.

Despite losing an early wicket. Notts. & Arnold pressed home the advantage they gained and Top Elliot scored a brilliant unbeaten 104 and Joe Pallister added excellent support with 80 n.o. Glapwell were a little annoyed that the game finished in rain, but a Notts. & Arnold spokesman said that they bowled as many overs in similar conditions. Who was right and who was wrong, it simply is a case of take your pick.

Bolsover who have made a tremendous start faltered for the first time this season when they could only manage a losing draw at Ordsall against Bridon. However it was a fine match and desperately close at the finish with a lot of credit going to both sides.

Batting first, Bridon reached 227 for 8 with Rob McLeod rolling back the years with a well crafted unbeaten 77 and Roger Wells (45) and Stuart Parkin (43) were also instrumental in this score which had looked unlikely when Bridon stood at 36 for 5 and on the brink of disaster. Andy Roddis (4 for 42) and Chris Pemberton (3 for 60) bowled well for Bolsover but they must be cursing the thought that they had let a winning position slip. 

A great effort by the Bolsover skipper Mark Bull who made 77 and Chris Pemberton (53) who can be a mighty effective lower order batsman almost turned the match back in their sides favour but a very good spell of bowling by Matt Makings (3 for 40) once again changed things around. Bolsover finally closed on 201 for 9 to give Bridon 18 very valuable points. As previously stated though, both sides played their part in a very good match.

Worksop’s batting held up considerably better this week when they visited Thoresby Colliery, but against a side who know how to make runs the 189 for 6 never looked like being enough. Glenn Pym (61) and Bryn Smith (43) top scored but Steve Willis (5 for 50) was always causing problems and Worksop were never able to step on the gas!

As one would expect Thoresby knocked off the required runs losing only three wickets in the process. Martin Cheshire (39), Nigel Burkitt (30) and the highly impressive Kiwi, Chris Spring (70 n.o.) all top scored as Thoresby sailed along to 192 for 3 and victory by seven wickets.

The final match in Division 1 was one of those no decision efforts because of the effects of the rain at Cutthorpe. Opponents Farnsfield won the toss and inserted the home side who proceeded to score 210 for 7 before declaring and handing a further five overs across to the Farnsfield batsmen. Asadullah Butt (33) lifted the Cutthorpe side after three early wickets had fallen but it was a tremendous partnership by Rob Plested (86) and Steve Chapman (44) that turned the whole game around before skipper Mark Barlow made the declaration which might have been a little on the generous side. Dave Bell was the pick of the Farnsfield attack with a well worked for 3 for 29.

Farnsfield started well but when Paul Delaney was out he was quickly followed by Graham Bramley and Trevor West before Rachid Riaz and Sam Wood steadied the ship. Riaz is absolute class whilst Wood who isn’t fourteen yet has a maturity well beyond his young years. Nothing looks like bothering him and one gets the impression he will score a ‘ton’ of runs as he gains experience. Who would have won? Very difficult to predict, but if Riaz and Wood had stayed together Farnsfield on 83 for 3 when play was suspended had a great chance. By the same degree if Cutthorpe had bagged another two wickets the game would have been over for Farnsfield.

In Division 2 the two top sides Eckington and Edwinstowe met at Staveley Lane with a rain affected draw being the outcome. Batting first, Edwinstowe’s South African star, Dean Elgar made a tremendous 138 and there was great support from Kamran Afzaal (57) and Jamie Peacock (34) as Edwinstowe piled up a mammoth 269 for 5.

Not to be outdone, Eckington had raced to 142 for 0 with another South African Ian O’Neill blasting an unbeaten 83 and Karl Fields doing likewise with 56. If ever a match deserved to have got to the finish it was this one, but when rain intervened that was the end and a real thriller which was still very much in the balance remained undecided.

It seemed strange that we had got five weeks into the season and still no century from Everton’s Jon Mimms. Fear not, he put that little matter right with a magnificent 117 against Mansfield & Pleasley as his side made 207 for 5 when the overs ran out. Mimms totally dominated proceedings and with good support coming from Peter Dobson (35), Everton accumulated a quite useful score. Ian Woodall (3 for 78) was the pick of the Mansfield & Pleasley attack.

In reply Mansfield and Pleasley who are going through a rough period at the moment managed 117 for 7 before the rain intervened. Keiron Evans with 32 top scored, but Everton looked almost certain to win this one and may well feel a trifle disappointed.

A tremendous 129 by Wayne Harrison set North Wheatley with Leverton up for 235 for 6 which looked a very useful total against Blidworth. Dave Wilcox (21) was the second highest score which laid testament to how much Harrison had dominated the innings whilst Andy Watson (3 for 26) and Dave Willcock (2 for 39) claimed the bulk of the wickets for Blidworth.

In reply Blidworth were sailing along quite nicely until Dave Willcock was run out for 31. From this point North Wheatley were always on top and although Ritchie Gibbons (29) batted well. Richard Robinson (3 for 37) spearheaded the attack as Blidworth crumbled to 161 for 8 at the close.

Anston were held to a rather disappointing 138 for 9 at Papplewick and Linby 2^nd  and quite frankly this never looked like being enough. Simon Roberts (6 for 31) and Steve Alford (3 for 36) were the pick of the attack and Anston were never allowed to settle into any shape or rhythm and the score looked quite inadequate to say the least.

This proved to be the case as Papplewick sailed home easily on 139 for 6 to win by four wickets. Robin Rhodes (36) and Ritchie Winton (41) were the batsman in form for a side who look capable of beating most on their day.

Whitwell blasted up a huge 273 for 4 at The Rookery when their overs ran out against Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd. Alan Draycott was a deserving ‘top of the bill’ with a magnificent 124 and fine support came from Ian Dennis in his first match of the season with 77, and Tom Chesters (53).

Not that Hosiery Mills took this lying down and they made a bold effort before closing on 222 for 8. Rob Ward (81) and Craig Brittlebank (64) both batted well but excellent spells by skipper Heath Bush (3 for 56) and Ian Dennis (3 for 34) turned things back in Whitwell’s favour and they never loosened their grip from then on.

The final match in this section between Waleswood and Caythorpe 2^nd was rained off without a ball being bowled.