Plumtree are almost there
by Phil Johnson, 14th August 2007

With three games remaining for all clubs in Division A, Plumtree can make the championship virtually theirs next Saturday if they win at nearest challengers Calverton. Plumtree’s latest success came in an entertaining encounter at home to  Ellerslie, who, on their day are a match for anyone.

The visitors elected to bat first on a drying pitch and were well set at 108 for 1 off 30 overs with Samrat Sharma (80) and Lachlan Grace looking to capitalise on their early good fortune. However, not for the first time this season, the home side’s spin duo of Taufseer Jaffari (3 for 38) and Dallas Coull (3 for 76) turned the game in the leaders favour and Ellerslie’s final total of 181 was 30 or 40 short of what had been anticipated at one stage.

Plumtree’s reply stuttered along at times but it maybe shows a strength in their depth that six batsmen got into their twenties. There were a few twists in the innings on a pitch that was keeping increasingly low and there was an exceptional spell from Zaheer Rehmann who took 3 for 45 off 16 overs. Eventually however, keeper Justin Stockdale and Steve James, who came back in after temporarily retiring hurt with an injured side saw the home team through with 2 overs remaining.

Long Eaton’s title challenge came completely off the rails at home to previously bottom Radcliffe on Trent whose overseas professional Waddington Mwayenga has endured a difficult season. However, the Zimbabwean hit form with three wickets as did Frankie Brown as Long Eaton were dismissed for just 76. Then with the bat, the same pair knocked the runs off in just 10 overs, Mwayenga finishing on 46.

Third met fourth and Calverton change places with Balderton (162) after a five wicket success in which ex Notts man David Fraser Darling hit 53 and stumper Richard Lee 47.

It is less clear cut at the bottom with six clubs nervously looking over their shoulders. Another win should see Newstead Village safe and it would be a commendable effort considering their poor start. If they do survive however, they will owe a huge debt of gratitude to Tariq Mahmood (45 and 4 for 36) who was the star performer in their win at home to Eastwood. Attenborough looked dead and buried last week yet hammered Southwell (86) by 122 runs on Saturday, Dominic Harvey and Sam Clulow each grabbing three wickets, the defeat sees Southwell slip to the bottom.

Its as you were at the top in B as table toppers Rolls Royce made it a family affair at Bottesford. Kevin and Andrew Pearson were the chief destroyers with the ball, taking five and four wickets respectively, then as Rolls struggled to reach the 100 set for victory, it fell down to skipper Gordon to see the side home with an unbeaten 54.

Undoubtedly, one of the players of the season in the league has been Paul McMillan of Gedling and Sherwood and on Saturday he again lived up to his billing with a fine all round performance at Kimberley. McMillan saw his side slump to 90 for 7 yet he remained unmoved and struck a glorious 118 off just 95 balls to leave his side on 198. In reply, Kimberley slumped to 14 for 5 and 96 for 9, skipper James Griffiths (65*) shared a tenth wicket stand of 57 with 15 year old Dominic Wheatley (20) before McMillan (4 for 35) returned to wrap the game up.

Keyworth remain in the promotion hunt after surpassing the 222 set by visitors Gotham with 11 balls to spare. Chris Ladd and Geoff Tindsley both recorded fifties but Stuart Meek was also a game winner striking three sixes  and a four in four balls late in the chase. Elsewhere in B, Loughborough collected 17 points in a winning draw over Collingham who fall to the bottom again as West Bridgfordians  picked up a much needed win at Kirkby Portland who fell 43 short of the 184 required for victory thanks to 6 for 28 from Oliver Straw.

Clifton Village II continue to lead the way in Division C after a 27 run success at Long Whatton (212), who after leading the table in May, will need another win to ensure survival. There is a change in second as Hucknall added Carrington Caribs (230) to their list of notable scalps. Despite fifties from Arslan Shah and Ansar Khan, Caribs came out second best as 70 from Ben Lake and 45 from Scott Harris  saw Hucknall home to all but secure survival and if results go their way they may still have a say in the promotion places.

Belvoir move up to second after a four wicket win at home to Plumtree II (232 for 6) thanks 80 from Tony Wade and 64 from Charles Hubbard, earlier in the day, ex first team skipper Mark Oldham had struck 114 for the losers. It may be too late to save their season but at least Attenborough II had something to smile about as they recorded their first win of the season at Nottingham. Hero of the day, was Carl Whelan, left out the first team, who took 8 for 34, including a hat trick!

Fiskerton may require just the one more victory to secure promotion from D. They didn’t have it all their own way as they were 45 for 5 at one stage chasing 155 for victory at home to Wilsons, but an unbroken sixth wicket stand between Kevin Rees and Jason Sharp saw the winners into the home straight. The game of the day was between second placed Radcliffe on Trent II and Thurgarton who are third. Colin Cliff continued his good form with 94 in Thurgarton’s total of 217 but Radcliffe eased home with three overs to spare thanks in the main to skipper Ian Noblet (57) and Alex Reed Brewer (44*).

Elsewhere in D, 134 from Thrumpton skipper Steve Weightman was not enough for victory at Stanton by Dale who had their own century maker Phil Baker (102*) whilst Willoughby’s survival campaign gathers pace with a crushing win at under strength Calverton.

No change in E with the top two of Wollaton II and Risley both recording victories. Stuart Cobbett, promoted from the third team top scored with 65 in Wollaton’s 46 run win at home to Long Eaton II (201) whilst struggling Southwell II (173 for 8)  pushed Risley all the way before the winners edged home with two wickets remaining. Underwood also won but Nuthall (176) came a cropper at Collingham II (186 for 8) who gained their first win of the season, veteran left hander Andy Cousins (63) top scoring for the winners.

There was no game for Gedling Colliery II in F so Caythorpe III extended their lead at the top, Matt woods (4 for 23) and Mark Jones ( 3 for 23) the chief perpetuators of their win at Notts Unity Casuals II (102). Elks cemented their third position with a comfortable 161 run win at home to bottom club Ravenshead (90) with Scott Law (79 and 3 for 15) the man of the match. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Ravenshead though as there was another defeat for Bottesford II but Wymeswold gained a desperately sought after victory at Eastwood to ease their relegation fears.

The merry go round at the top in Division G continued on Saturday as Hoveringham returned to the top after a powerful display at fellow contenders Lowdham. Mark Melbourne (81) and skipper Tim Etherington (55) were in the runs for Hoveringham in their daunting 258 for 8 and in reply Rashid  Akhtar took 6 scalps as the third placed club slumped to 115 all out. Chilwell drop to second as Beeston Sycamore produced another shock and again it was Tom Fullwood and Dave Fawcett who were the chief players as Chilwell collapsed to 68 all out.

Promotion is still not out of reach for Kinoulton and they took full advantage of Gotham II fielding seven under fourteen players. Mark Bailey (102) and the consistent Steve Harling (87) thrashed the inexperienced attack to all parts then Steve Fox took control, snaffling six wickets as Gotham made a miserly 47 in reply. Relief at last for Bramcote II who gained 2 runs off the final delivery to notch their first win of the season at Epperstone.

Congratulations must go to Oxton in Division H who, with their twelfth successive  win of the season,  are the first club to gain promotion. Kirkby Portland II took a giant step forward in joining them as the Severns of Adie (4 for 38) and Dan Severn (3 for 17) bowled the team to victory at East Leake. Cotgrave still look threatening though and there were “five fers” for Tony Newby and Shaun Hall as they destroyed Elks II for whom the season cant end soon enough.

Mike Phillips of Gedling and Sherwood II wont forget this last fortnight in a hurry. Last week, he crowned the opening of the clubs new ground by striking the first hundred there. This week he became the first bowler to take five wickets as his haul helped his team to a vital win at home to Beeston Sycamore II, for good measure, Philiips chipped in with 72 with the bat.

It looks like two from four at the top on J. Newstead Village II stay top after winning at doomed Caunton but Lambley move upwards to second after squeezing past Ruddington (117) by three wickets, Jamie Marchant and Chris Morley each taking three wickets for the winners. There was a surprise defeat for Carrington Caribs II at Edingley whilst  6 for 39 for Gladstone’s Neil Baines was still not enough to bring his side victory at mid table Sutton Bonington.

West Bridgfordians II place in the top two in K was under threat after mustering just 106 at home to Belvoir II, however Mick Taylor rolled back the years with 6 for 26 as the visitors fell seven runs short. At the wrong end of the table, the misery continues for Thurgarton II who could well be falling to their third successive relegation following defeat at home to Bingham  who hold an outside chance of promotion.

Woodborough made it nine wins  out of nine in L after virtually ending Kimberley III’s faint hopes of promotion. A familiar name kept Breaston in hot pursuit as an unbeaten 70 from Steve Battle saw his side to a six wicket win at home to Stanton by Dale II. Elsewhere, Nottingham Victoria could only scrounge eight players for the trip to Flintham and a miserable day was complete after collapsing to 37 all out.

Thrumpton II stay top in M but only just following a thrilling tie at home to Long Whatton II. A 95 from Mark Payne looked to have given his side victory as they went into the final over requiring six for victory. Four of these came off the first two deliveries, then two wickets and a dot ball ensured the tightest finish possible, just the one was scrambled off the final ball to end a brilliant game of cricket. Closest rivals Belton II slipped to defeat chasing 124 for victory at home to Keyworth II.

Lowdham remain at the summit in N after a win at struggling Newstead Village III and Gedling Colliery stay just behind following a 26 run win at home to Plumtree III (145), Nick Ferguson taking 5 for 27 for the losers. Hugh Owen Jones of Radcliffe III produced the divisions finest individual performance scoring 99 and taking 4 for 32 in his teams comfortable win at home to Balderton II.

Chilwell II and Ellerslie III both picked up maximum 20 point hauls at the top in Division P whilst Whatton and Aslockton II gave themselves hope of avoiding the drop to the basement after shocking third place West Bridgfordians III.

No change at the top in R with Wollaton III and Wymeswold II winning and securing promotion in the process. For the latter the brother and sister combination of Jack and Sophia Hayes again grabbed the headlines taking five wickets each as visitors Edingley crumbled to 56 all out in reply to the home sides 237 for 6.