Riaz soon in touch
by Paul Barker, 29th April 2007

With the cricket grounds flowing freely with runs the powerful Farnsfield side managed the highest total of the day, making 294 for 9 on an absolute feather bed at Bridon. It simply showed how good this track is at Bridon and the home side made a terrific spirited reply scoring 241 for 7 in what proved to be a sparkling game of cricket.

The hugely talented Pakistani star, Rashid Riaz led the way with a magnificent 120 and excellent support came from Paul Delaney (48) and Dave Bell (58). Riaz however is something very special and he totally dominated proceedings and treated all the bowling with complete disdain in a superb chanceless knock.

A lot of credit however must go to Bridon’s Matt Makings who despite the fearsome onslaught stuck to his task extremely well and was rewarded with the excellent figures of 5 for 85. Simon Davison also bowled well, taking 2 for 47 on a pitch that batsmen would like to roll up and carry around with them.

Bridon who were promoted last season showed their mettle with a gritty performance and excellent knocks from Simon Fenwick (73), Wayne Spooner (43) and Rob McLeod (38 n.o.) saw them make a tremendous reply to what looked at the start a prohibitive total.

Cuckney who are everybody’s favourites for honours disposed of Notts. & Arnold Amateurs with complete ease by six wickets. Only Shazad Ahmed made much of a show with a good knock of 44, but Karl Musgrove (3 for 18) and Steve Randall (3 for 25) completely wrecked the rest of proceedings and the Notts. & Arnold innings closed on just 143 all out.

This was never going to be enough to test the powerful Cuckney combination and they sailed to 144 for 4 as they pleased with Elliott Hind (31) and Richard Stroh (57 n.o.) dominating proceedings. The season is only two weeks old, but Cuckney are already looking a very potent force that will take a lot of stopping. We will know a lot more after they have met Farnsfield at Station Lane next weekend.

A tremendous game took place at Fourth Avenue where Thoresby Colliery managed a winning draw by the skin of their teeth against a very competitive and determined Marshalls side. Batting first Thoresby rattled up a mighty 276 for 5 with Martin Cheshire (67), Shailesh Patel (54) and their very impressive Kiwi, Chris Spring making a brilliant unbeaten 101.

If you thought that this total would frighten the life out of Marshalls you would have been so wrong as they grasped the nettle and went for the runs in style. Kevin Housham who is back after two seasons out scored 63 and the impressive Mark Whitlam smashed a terrific 83. Their good work was carried on by John Deacon (38) and Chris Hearn (36) as the target grew ever closer and it was only the very effective Chris Spring who completed a fine all round match with 3 for 39, that probably saved Thoresby from an unlikely defeat.

Marshalls closed on 271 for 9 in a match as good as anyone will see all season. It does look however that once again Thoresby might be a little lightweight in the bowling stakes. Last season in the Premier League they wracked up some huge totals but then became dispirited as their opponents knocked them off. It would be unwise to say the same will happen this time, but there does appear to be quite a gulf between their batting and their bowling.

Bolsover have made a mighty impressive start and they gained a tremendous winning draw over Cutthorpe at the Recreation Ground. Batting first Bolsover were indebted to some first class batting by Chris Cowley (73), Andy Rodgers (50) and Stuart Wragg (48) as they reached 251 before they were bowled out. Nigel Kingham who always seems to bowl well against Bolsover took 7 for 76 in another excellent effort.

This total however seemed achievable and Matt Cluer scored a brilliant 122 in the surge for victory. Rob Plested (35) gave adequate support, but it was all in vain as Cuttorpe finished on 241 for 8 at the close. It had looked so different when Cutthorpe only required 25 runs with five wickets standing, but three quick wickets changed the whole complexion of the game. Bolsover have certainly made a terrific start and look as though they could upset even the best during this season.

One side whose batting must be giving them grave cause for concern is Glapwell who sank to a 97 run defeat at Ransome & Marles. When 15-year-old Daniel Bircumshaw top scored in a miserly all out total of 128 it is time to start worrying and Ransomes skipper Gay Lambert sliced through some non-existent resistance taking 4 for 23 as Glapwell just capitulated.

Earlier Ransome & Marles had totalled 225 for 8 with South African Henno Jordaan making 75 and Australian Russ Keeley 58. Chris Barrett with 3 for 23 was Glapwell’s best bowler and they did well at this point of their game, it was when they batted that the problems started.

Kiveton Park capitalised on their good start of last week with an easy 106 run win over Worksop. Batting first Kiveton had their ‘Prodigal Son’, Ian Hampshire leading the way with an excellent 52. Hampshire made his mark at Kiveton before moving to Steetley and Welbeck and has now returned to his celestial home and looks as though he has quickly got into his stride. Good support came from Tom Neeley (49) and Richard Spurr (43 n.o.) whilst Simon Mills bowled well for Worksop to take 4 for 68.

In reply, Worksop batted very disappointingly and were bowled out for just 105. The reason for this may well be Kiveton’s Sri-Lankan off-spin star, Harsha Cooray who after his excellent start the previous week took another four wickets at a cost of just 31 runs to give his side a very comfortable win.

In Division 2, relegated Blidworth are quickly making their mark and aiming for a quick return to the top flight. They disposed of Anston by six wickets and quite frankly their opponents aren’t that bad a side.

Batting first the Anston batsmen seemed to have had a penchant for playing back that is absolutely fatal on the Burmah Road track and they paid the price, big style. Rollo Sharma was the biggest thorn in their side taking 5 for 33 in an inspired spell and Dave Willcock captured 3 for 52 as Anston were all out for just 138. Only a cavalier style knock by Andrew Ruczenczyn of 27 held up the Blidworth attack and it was not until the last wicket partnership of 42 by Greg Pearson (22 n.o.) and Jim Glazier (19) who had both seen enough and started getting forward that an air of respectability was added to the score.

The Blidworth reply was totally dominated by Dave Willcock whose stroke-play was totally brutal as all the Anston attack was put to the sword. Andrew Ruczenczyn (3 for 52) and Ian Barley are certainly not bad bowlers but it was all the same to Willcock who flayed everything that was bowled at him to and over the fence in a majestic display. Good support came from Andy Norwood (28) and victory was achieved with 24 overs to spare.

Spare a thought for Everton who started their season so well with an impressive win at Whitwell last week. They must have thought they were well on their way once again as they piled up a huge total of 245 for 4 against Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd at the Metcalf Ground. It was too much to expect Jon Mimms to fail two weeks on the bounce and he duly obliged with a superb knock of 82 and good support came from Rob Nicholas (30), Mark Anthony (54 n.o.) and John Waghorne (57) as the Hosiery Mills attack came under severe pressure.

It was not enough however as Steve Gooding (55 n.o.) and Craig Brittlebank (97) batted magnificently to take their side to 246 for 5 and victory by five wickets. Chris Woods (4 for 52) was the pick of the Everton attack but they look as though they could do with a front line bowler who would compliment their excellent batting line-up.

Probably the match of the day took place at South Wheatley where the home side North Wheatley with Leverton won off the very last ball of the match against Eckington in a major shock. Ian O’Neill (46) and Julian Carlile (34) both batted well for Eckington but the rest of the innings folded rather dramatically against Richard Robinson (4 for 43) and James Blackwell (3 for 20) and the innings closed on a disappointing 167 for 9.

The North Wheatley reply was dominated by a magnificent innings of 73 by Wayne Harrison who helped in no small way to set up the victory. Good support came from James Blackwell (32) and despite some good bowling by Tom Dawson (3 for 29) and Dave Barton (2 for 52) four runs were scored off the very last ball to secure a memorable three wicket win.

Waleswood who made a good start last week came right back down to earth with a bang as they were defeated by five wickets by Whitwell who were smarting after their defeat by Everton last week. In a low scoring debacle Waleswood were bowled out for just 63 with Lewis Robinson (3 for 21), Nathan Morris (3 for 8) and and Kevin Morton (3 for 13) proving virtually unplayable.

Not that Whitwell had it all their own way, losing five wickets before attaining the runs required for victory. Simon Cope (2 for 19) and Gareth Davies (2 for 15) both bowled well, but the score was undefendable and after a major struggle, Whitwell scraped to victory.

By a complete contrast Edwinstowe showed all their talent with the highest score of the day in this section, 270 for 9 against a Mansfield & Pleasley side who for once had no answer to the onslaught fired at them. James Peacock (79), Gareth Price (38) and their South African recruit Daniel Elgar (70) all piled up the runs and only Australian Brad Stengstock (3 for 46) and Ian Woodall (3 for 63) kept the score in any type of check.

Unlike what normally happens, the Edwinstowe attack quickly made its presence felt and John Garnham made huge inroads into the Mansfield & Pleasley batting line-up taking 5 for 15 in a terrific spell of bowling. M. & P. finally closed on 112 for 9 which is a long way removed from their usual batting performance and just goes to show what a powerful combination, Edwinstowe look.

The final match in this section was held at Caythorpe and resulted in a winning draw for Papplewick and Linby 2^nd over the home side. Batting first, Papplewick made 171 for 7 with Matt Dear (77) and Jamie Peat (43) being the significant contributors.

In reply although Sam Powell made 59 and Josh Bolus (36), Nagasair Sookram (3 for 16) ripped the heart out of the middle order and Caythorpe were holding on at 162 for 9 when the overs ran out.