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Gunn and Moore South Notts Cricket League Report Saturday 14 August 2010 By Phil Johnson No matter what Plumtree and Hucknall Rolls do in their remaining two games, seven points for Belvoir in their final game at Unity on the 28th will see them enter the Notts Premier League for the first time in their history. The Knipton based club travelled to Regatta Way to take on relegated Gedling and Sherwood and once again it was a desperately disappointing batting display from the losers who just trickled past three figures with Steve Carmody (26) top scoring. Eyebrows were raised when Belvoir took left armer Lee Fazackerley to the club at the start of last season, after all Lee had been part of a poor Bottesford side that had been relegated from B in 2008. However, since joining he has really stepped up to the higher standard, in particular this year and once again he was excellent on Saturday taking 3 for 35. Fazackerley was more than aided by spinner James Fellows who took four scalps as a straightforward victory looked on the cards. However, South African Dereck Bamber gave the winners more than a few scares taking five wickets, he was as usual lacking in support and Belvoir, guided by the in form Darren Bicknell (57*), got home with five wickets intact. Plumtree did all they could to keep the title race alive and in doing so relegated Long Eaton. It was the same old story for the West Park club with a lack of runs in the top order and no quality overseas player to assist. Number six Mark Harrison top scored with 33 out of 136 with Aussie Brad Evans taking three wickets and Ben Thompson and skipper Scott Bailey a couple apiece. Alan Villiers took a couple of wickets after tea but it was all over bar the shouting by then with an unbeaten 62 from opener Steve James plus twenties from Ban Storey and Michael Tew seeing the winners cruise home with eleven overs to spare. If three teams are going to be relegated from most divisions this season then Gedling Colliery are going to be in serious trouble as despite a brave attempt, the team just fell short at home to Hucknall Rolls. The Karim brothers of Rahim (59), Wasim (58) and Saleem (30) were all in the runs as the visitors posted 232, an excellent total considering the reduced overs game of 39 per side. For Colliery, the spin of Steve Burton has been sorely missed, as his 5 for 47 proved. In reply, most batsmen made starts, in particular, Zaheer Rehman (31) and Callum McKenzie (30), but Colliery lacked the big score to overhaul the total. In the end, 33 off 3 overs was too big an ask and the final two balls were blocked out with only one wicket remaining. Dan Mather (28*) tried his heart out at the end but Colliery ended 11 runs shy at the close. With Balderton's game with Hyson Green falling victim to the weather, Southwell went into their home game with Unity Casuals needing probably just the one victory to be safe for another season. And at 8pm that was still the case after a below par bowling display saw Unity, who have found some form, albeit too late for honours rack up 271 thanks to the in form duo of Gurpej Landa (119) and Dominic Terkowski (56). In fact Landa's last four visits to the crease now read 94, 102, 66 and 119. There never seemed to be any danger of Southwell losing the game outright and contributions of 63 from Sam Johnson and 35 from Matty Davis saw the home side play out on 191 for 7 with Usman Mussafer continuing his brilliant season taking 4 for 52. The main news in B came from Eastwood where Ellerslie gained promotion to the top flight. Despite only being third at present, the top two positions are held by second teams and Ellerslie can only be caught by one other first team! On Saturday they had Kane Wilson top scoring with 34 out of 175 with the little seamers of Mark Smith (7 for 55) being ideal for the rain affected wicket. Eastwood too found the wicket a tricky one to bat on and at 114 for 8 looked set for certain defeat but Ryan Elliott (25*) dug in and held on for the losing draw. For Ellerslie Jurgen Charlesworth took 3 for 56 and Tariq Mahmood 2 for 23 to leave them with seasons totals of 40 and 49 respectively. The relegation battle between Radcliffe II and Kirkby Portland was called off which paved the way for Calverton to continue their great escape by putting promotion chasing Hucknall to the sword. Calverton's batting was a team effort with Scott Andrew (39). Eddie Lee (35), Bilal Waheed (34) and Mark Haseman (32) all contributing to a total of 236. The innings was in contrast ot Hucknall's who, with the exception of Scott Harris (48) never came to terms with Kevin Evans (4 for 29) and Michael Nester (3 for 25) and slumped to 69 run defeat. All is not lost for Hucknall though with the news that fellow promotion rivals Gotham had come a poor second to Plumtree II who remain in the runners up position. Knocks of 52 from Alex Sheriston, 49 from James Gamble and a quick fire 36 in 22 balls from Dave Sumner saw the winners post 188 for 8 despite four wickets for Paul Blatherwick and three from Johnny Boyes. Gotham's batting has been a real Jekyll and Hyde affair this season and the dark side returned again with Nigel Finney and Sheriston both taking three wickets each in an 83 run success. Collingham and West Bridgfordians are almost within touching distance of promotion in C after Collingham put paid to closest rivals Wilsons (135) who were well beaten by the winners who had Oliver Dyson (89) and Joe Edge (43) performing with the bat and Mick Coote (5 for 40) with the ball in a 58 run success. Most of the action in C centred around the bottom and a wicket with two balls remaining gave Wollaton II (197) a priceless outright win over Long Whatton (172) who are now relegated. The match winners for Wollaton were Sunil Sharma (73) and Michael Leake (30* & 3 for 29) whilst Jack Foster (45 & 3 for 21) could consider himself himself unlucky to be on the losing side. At Attenborough II, left armer Carl Whelan (7 for 18) found the conditions to his liking as he, together with Charlie Simkiss (3 for 19) bowled out Gedling Colliery II (47). There were a few nervy moments in the reply before Attenborough trundled home by five wickets. Colliery, who led the way for the majority of the season are have now lost 5 out of the last six and are just 14 points from danger. Hoveringham lead the way in D by just a single point and its now between themselves, Thurgarton, who were rained off and Thrumpton for the two promotion positions. Hoveringham (215) had Ben Lee to thank again for a brilliant 92 although Stuart Walton (41) has found some form after an indifferent start to the season. Fiskerton needed the points for different reasons, yet despite 68 and 61 from Gareth and Michael Rees respectively the losers fell 12 runs short. Newark are in deep trouble after defeat by four wickets at Thrumpton who had Rajiv Govindarajan (91 & 3 for 34) starring again, earlier Rob Matchett had struck 88 out of a testing 195. Elsewhere, Risley (122) finally got back to winning ways and in doing so ended Southwell II's fine run of form. Matt Shaw (62 & 3 for 29) was the man of the match in an eight wicket win. It is more clear cut in E where a win for both West Bridgfordians and Nuthall should see them promoted next week. Nuthall inflicted a first defeat on the leaders with Richard Marsh adding four wickets to his five last week, bowling out West Bridgford for 128 chasing 169. Farndon and Ellerslie II kept up their slim hopes of promotion with slender victories. Farndon were 90 for 5 chasing 189 at Hucknall II before in strode Andrew Duckmanton (75*) to win the game. Earlier Ian Lobb had been dismissed for an excellent 92. It was real superhero stuff at Ellerslie where Matt Footitt was taken to hospital after just two overs of Underwood's innings after sustaining a nasty injury. Undeterred, he volunteered to bat later and his team needed him too after losing seven wickets in pursuit of 155. Two more fell whilst Footitt was at the crease, yet the number nine bludgeoned the ball to the boundary off the final delivery to win the game. At the wrong end of the table, Caythorpe III gave their survival hopes a massive shot in the arm by bowling out relegated Eastwood II for 47 with Steve Trueman taking three wickets and Oliver Clarke, Lea Hawkes and Geoff Crook two each. There were a few worried faces in the Caythorpe dressing room when their first three batsmen were all dismissed without scoring, before Matt Staczkiewicz (26*) ensured there were no further alarms. One more win for Wymeswold will see them promoted from F and Calverton II look favourites to join them after hammering Chilwell on Saturday. When Derek Pickering comes off, he comes off and the keeper fired a brilliant 161 out of 258. Shell shocked Chilwell managed just 63 in reply with young Will Harris grabbing four wickets. Third place Kinoulton are hanging in there still though with Mark Towle striking a four off the last ball to snatch a tie at Whatton & Aslockton (173). Congratulations to Beeston Sycamore who are promoted from G and now require just a point to be champions. The definitive success came at Unity II (115) where Steve James (28) and Dave Straiton (27) made the telling contributions on a difficult track. Its still advantage Ravenshead in the race for runners up with the in form Peter Smith making an unbeaten 41 as they overhauled West Bridgfordians III (88) with lots to spare as did Burton Joyce who relegated Bottesford II (58) with their eight wicket win. Collingham II regain pole position in H after bowling only seven overs in anger before their game at home to Lenton Abbey fell victim to one of the heavy showers dotted around the region. The reason for Collingham's elevation was an inexplicable batting performance from Sutton Bonington (75) who failed to pass 114 with Stefan Turner (5 for 22) the match winner for relegation threatened Edingley. Staying at the bottom and Hyson Green II were grateful for the weather which allowed Monty Douglas (94*) to play in the second team and star in their seven wicket win at home to Bramcote II (162). It was business as usual for champions Rolls Royce II (107 for 3) at home to Newstead Village II (103) with veterans Alan Pearson (6 for 20) and Graeme Wright (49) sharing the plaudits. The fight for the other slot remains with Ruddington (152) hanging on in second with Kimberley III just failing to score 18 runs off the final over. Lambley keep up the pressure with another fine opening stand between Elliott Burnett (64) and Geoff Spurr (40) the catalyst behind their eight wicket win at Attenborough III (117). If Keyworth II survive in J it will be in no more small part to Richard Drury who fired a second century to go with his four fifties to date as his side won by eight wickets at Woodborough (167). There was precious little action in K with the top two clash between Bingham and Thrumpton II one of three games called off. What there was saw Wilsons II (211) stay third beating Beeston Sycamore II (149) whilst Caythorpe IV won the battle of the basement by eight runs at Long Whatton II with Ashley Daffin picking up four wickets and Steve Powell three. Only one game was possible in L and leaders Radcliffe III are now looking nervously over their shoulders following a fourth recent defeat, this time at seemingly doomed Thrugarton II for whom Tony Fawcett fired 94* and Chris Dutton (57). There was no action whatsoever in M, whilst in N, the only game saw Ruddington II recover well from their setback last week by seeing off Whatton and Aslockton II (72) with some ease thanks in part to Gwyn Davies (48*). All eyes were on Titchfield Park in P where Kimberley IV and Attenborough IV (91) changed places in second with Kimberley emerging victorious by nine wickets. On a sticky wicket, Alex Beale (5 for 23) and Charlie Walters (4 for 8) wreaked havoc with ball before skipper Marcus Beale (44*) and pinch hitter Paul Newton (39*) made hay with the bat. Finally in R, the only completed game saw Kinoulton II remain on the promotion fringes after Tom Davies hit a match winning 67 at home to fellow rivals Sutton Bonington II (109).
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