Weather continues to play havoc with South Notts cricket
by Phil Johnson, 9th July 2007

Despite a fine weekend weather wise, the incessant June rain created yet more havoc on the South Notts Cricket League with 41 games being lost to the still saturated pitches. Concerns are growing whether Newark and Lowdham will be able to use their grounds again this season and they are hastily trying to seek alternative venues.

Only one game was possible in Division A and Newstead Village (166 for 7) picked up a useful sixteen point winning draw at home to Attenborough who continued their freefall down the table. The first couple of hours was a tepid affair on a drying pitch and outfield, indeed the first boundary was not scored until the 37^th over. However the tempo changed once Newstead’s overseas star Tariq Mahmood strode to the wicket. Mahmood, after a steady start cut loose with six overs remaining smashing 55 as 50 runs came off the final five overs, how the visitors must have been rueing dropping Mahmood twice in single figures.

Attenborough were in with a shout at the halfway stage, however the nagging accuracy of spin twins Mahmood and skipper Andy Paulson (both 4 for 48) ensured that  wickets fell at regular intervals and the visitors were forced to bat out the final couple of overs for a losing draw.

In Division C, Clifton Village II increased the lead at the summit with a four wicket success at struggling Bramcote (118), Pete Fairhall and Adam Shepherd taking four wickets apiece. Hucknall gained their first outright victory of the season, and in doing so moved out the relegation places. Hucknall (215 for 7) brushed aside the challenge of fading Long Whatton with Jamie Braybrook (31 and 4 for 27) enjoying success with both bat and ball, whilst teenager Adam Scott (4 for 23) seems to have taken the step up to the first team in his stride.

Elsewhere in C, Hickling (170) missed their chance to move into second as they slipped to a two wicket defeat in the penultimate over at Belvoir who climb to fourth. On generally bowler friendly wickets, Hickling’s Andy Clarke struck an impressive 78 but in reply home keeper Ryan Lewis saw his side home with an unbeaten 48.

Just the one game in D and Fiskerton (198 for 7) increased their lead at the top, after overcoming Thurgarton with just two balls remaining. The hero here was Fiskerton skipper Mike Rees who injured himself early in the game and batted with a runner to top score with 68.

Risley (183) still the lead the way in E, however they fell to their first defeat of the season at their nearest rivals Wollaton , Andy Rattray and Sunil Sharma each scoring 55 as the home side got home with five wickets remaining. Farndon move up to third, squeezing past Hucknall II (69), in form Mark Etherington grabbing another five wickets for the winners.

The enforced break has done nothing to alter the fortunes of Collingham II’s at the bottom as visitors Long Eaton II gained their third successive victory. Chasing 174 for victory, the home side made a fight of it with veterans Charlie Lucas (71) and Jeff Kirkham (41) in the runs, however they fell 17 runs short and slipped to their seventh straight defeat.

Eastwood Town II climb to the top in F without striking a ball in anger as previous residents Gedling Colliery II (88) slipped to a surprise 68 run defeat at Ellerslie II who climb out of the relegation spots, Will Shields (5 for 28) earning the man of the match.

New leaders too in G with Chilwell replacing Hoveringham as the latter fell to their first defeat of the season at Epperstone. Hoveringham were severely depleted thanks to a stag do but credit must go to the winners for successfully defending a measly 79, Ken Carter gaining the plaudits with 5 for 21.

Oxton in H  continued where they had left off before the inclement weather, comfortably disposing of nearest challengers Kirkby Portland II (138 for 9) by five wickets thanks to a solid all round performance from Mike Berry (37* and 3 for 29).

East Leake move up to fifth after dismissing poor Beeston Sycamore II for just 29, Andrew Elkington taking 6 for 20.

Division J saw the only completed fixture programme, the game of the day on paper turned out to be a stroll for leaders Lambley who thrashed Gladstone (142 for 8) by ten wickets, Jamie Marchant (82*) and ex Ellerslie man Kevin Cowlishaw (5 for 19) sharing the honours. Newstead Village II are hot on Gladstone’s heels in third, Matt Thrower (71*) top scoring in their 82 run success at Edingley (90). Stapleford and Carrington Caribs II could not be separated on 84 runs apiece, Wasim Karim, usually renowned for his first team exploits taking 5 for 4 for the Caribs. Congratulations must go to Caunton who recorded their first success of the season at home to Sutton Bonington (195), Jamie McIntyre (64) and Stuart Simpson (69*) seeing the strugglers home by seven wickets.

Burton Joyce increased the gap at the top in K with a forty one run win at home to Attenborough III (141 for 6), Chris Seymour and Tony Downie both recording half centuries.  Just the one game played in L and Willoughby II dropped out of the promotion places after losing to promotion rivals Breaston (108 for 7), this was despite a five wicket haul from the consistent Brian Johnson.

Belton go top in M, but only just as they lost nine wickets chasing 68 for victory at home to Farndon II, Martin Radford took 5 for 33 for the leaders. Fellow challengers Wilsons II (129) and Keyworth II met at The Chateau and it was the home side that came out on top in a tense game by nine runs.

In N, Newstead Village III (26) were destroyed on their Abbey ground by Plumtree III’s Keith Sherriston who helped himself to four wickets, whilst Shepshed Town III climb to the fringes of the promotion picture with a four wicket win at Cotgrave II (88) with Jack Moore (5 for 46) the match winner.

With conditions favouring the bowlers, there were three superb batting performances in Division P. Firstly Jamie Binley struck a fabulous 123 for Beeston Sycamore III, Binley also weighed in with three wickets but still ended on the losing side as leaders Chilwell II overcame the 199 target set with three wickets intact. Whilst at West Bridgfordians III there was a century apiece for the home sides Stuart Smedley and Mike Butler of Broad Street as the home side ran out 54 run winners. West Bridgfordians II stay third.

Wollaton III take over top spot in R, bowling out Shepshed Town IV for 98 to win by just two runs. The game between challengers Notts Unity Casuals II and Wymeswold III was washed out so Young Lions closed the gap in fourth as fifties from Rav Digwa and Gurj Singh ensured a comfortable win at East Leake II. Finally, youth took centre stage at Bingham II as fifteen year olds James Buxton (36 and 3 for 5) and Richard Shipman (6 for 27) were the heroes in their teams 59 run win at home to West Bridgford Legion II (90).