Trees slump to hand Cricket First championship to the Kids
by Steve Spencer, 25th April 2008

In the first semi Calypso Kids got off to a steady start against accurate Park bowling and it was only a strong finish by Liam Somers with 51 not out and James Hubball, 27, that broke the shackles and took the final total to a very useful 133 for 5. Clumber started like a train in reply. Dave Beard with 35 and Jim Delaney 24 looked to be making light work of the huge target, but with no other batsman able to make any impression the innings ran out of steam and, when the final wicket fell in the 12th over, they were still 37 runs short on 96 all out.

Fielding a very strong side, Killamarsh went into the other semi as big favourites against the Wednesday champions Tricky Trees, and even after they had been restricted to 91 for 6, Steve Ludlam with 42 not out making almost half of his teams runs, I would still have made them most likely to progress to the final. The result went right to the wire as Steve Walker with 20 not out and Tom Ullyott with 28 not out leading to Trees needing two to win off the final delivery of the game bowled by David Adams. A scrambled two leg byes ended a great contest and gave Trees a three wicket win.

After their heroics in the semi, Trees won the toss and asked Kids to bat first in the final and, with the score on only 29 at the halfway stage, hopes were high of another upset, before captain Richard Watts led the fight back with a rapid 40 not out and with Tim Ward (32) and James Hubball (26). They managed to record a respectable 108 for 6, with all Calypso Kids bowlers giving nothing awa.y Trees found runs hard to come by, and with Danny Brown top scoring with only 13, they slumped to 59 all out, making Calypso Kids the Cricket First Champions for Spring 2008.

Well done R Watts, L Somers, J Holden, L Seeley, J Hubball, B Underwood and Tim Ward.

A big thank you to Alan Rowley and his excellent 'follow on' web site for showing all the reports and tables through the winter, and I look forward to keeping up with all the local Leagues results and tables this summer.

Wishing all teams a successful outdoor season. See you all for the autumn league.

Cheers Steve.

Play-Off Quarter Final Results

Clumber Park (98) beat Cuckney Terriers (80)
Calypso Kids (157/0) beat M & P Dragons (95)
Killamarsh (86/4) beat Bawtry (83)
Tricky Trees (109/5) beat Mansfield & Pleasley (108/5)

Semi Final Results

Calypso Kids (133/5) beat Clumber Park (96/7)
Tricky Trees (92/4) beat Killamarsh (91/6) 

Final

Calypso Kids (108/6) beat Tricky Trees (59/7)