Firsts on Fire!
The season seems to be finishing too soon for a revitalised 1st XI who put Eastwood to the sword at GLA.
Scoring runs has been a problem for the majority of the season, but for the second successive match the 200 target was surpassed again. Following on from last Sundays 90 odd, Scott Andrew continued to be amongst the runs hitting an inspired 123, with a number of batsmen chipping in with teens/twenties, a total of 232 was posted for the loss of six wickets (almost nose bleed inducing!).
Eastwood, who are currently suffering a poor run of form, may well be accompanying us into Division B. With Billy Armstrong bowling relatively pain free now, he tore through Eastwoods batting recording figures of 6-38 from 14 overs. With Billy Bennett claiming his first ever 1st XI wicket, Eastwood were never in the hunt finishing on 158. This result sees Eastwood slip into the final relegation place with one round of fixtures remaining.
MOM Lobster & Ginger Bill
Seconds Lose at Oxton
Nesters boys were asked to bat first on a wicket which resembled the Oval on Day 8 of a test match! With bits & pieces being removed from the surface by the ball from over number one, what represented a decent score was difficult to determine. To be fair no batsman (bar one) got to grips with the surface all day. The innings closed on 142-7 from 45 overs.
In reply Oxtons opener decided that owt he could reach he would thump! With the ball flying over peoples heads & here there & everywhere, the tactic worked. With 60 odd on the board he scored fifty on his own! Although he eventually perished (caught at long on off a full toss of all deliveries) the game returned to something resembling normality with playing & missing the regular norm. Despite some consistently accurate bowling, the nicks were not forthcoming & Oxton ran out comfortable victors & there battle to avoid the drop received a boost.
With the Sunday XI having no fixture, other results saw them slip into the second relegation place in Division 4 of the Newark Alliance. However, destiny is still in there hands. With three fixtures remaining, one victory may well suffice, two definitely will.
1st XI Relegated Despite Kirkham
The final nail was hammered into the 1st XI relegation coffin on Saturday, despite a terrific performance from 15 year old Brinsley Kirkham.
The visitors to GLA, Gedling & Sherwood who are also still in the relegation mix, batted first and thanks to their overseas recruit were soon amongst the runs. With a 100 posted and no wickets down, a huge score looked probable, before Brinsley was tossed the ball. As you would expect with no wickets down, runs continued to flow but thanks to six wickets from Brinsley, maximum bowling points were taken & the total was restricted to 259 when 300 looked a real possibility.
Now bearing in mind we have not reached the dizzy heights of 200 this season, 260 to ensure the relegation battle continued was a tall order. With the usual array of daft shots & questionable run out decisions, the target was never really threatened although Callum Jayes with 75 gave us some respectability as the 200 monkey was overcome, just! 203 all out and a total of 8 points were not enough to avoid the drop to Division B next year.
Relegation is not the end of the world, it happened in 2001; three years later we were in The Prem. It has happened before & it will happen again, life goes on. Calvertons policy of sticking with the youngsters & refusing to shell out for Pros/overseas stars may have ultimately cost them Division A status, but the experience will do them the world of good, anyhow getting an overseas player with the correct accreditation is difficult!
MOM Brinsley, well bowled young man.
Youngsters Ensure 2nds Are Safe
Any remaining lingering doubts that the 2nds may be relegated were extinguished at East Bridgford in a low scoring victory by just 8 runs.
Batting first on an interesting wicket & foot long outfield, scoring runs was not going to be easy. After a turgid war of attrition for the best part of three hours, a total of 102-8 was posted from 45 overs. Well done to the batsman for sticking to their task in difficult conditions & ultimately posting a winning score.
Despite not having a plethora of runs to play with, the bowlers went about their task with relish. Kevin Evans backed up his 44 runs with 3 wickets, but it was youngsters Kyle Welch (4 wickets) & Ryan Evans (3 wickets) who ensured a narrow victory & Division F status maintained. Well done to John Nester & his team.
MOM Kyle & Ryan, a great effort.
Victory For Sunday XI
With the relegation issue also looming over the Sunday XI, a victory was vital at home to Rolls Royce.
With the 1st XI passing the 200 mark yesterday, it was now the turn of the Sunday XI to top the 200 mark from their 40 overs. 202-5 with splendid innings from Scott Andrew (92) the sea air must have been good for him, Will Wright 42* & a quick 35 from Callum Jayes was a decent target to set our visitors.
An excellent all round bowling display with Matt Dean leading the way (4-35 off 10) saw Rolls skittled for 122. Victory by 80 runs, heady days! With no game next week, the Sunday XI then have three consecutive away games to preserve Division 4 status, one victory may be enough to survive, two surely will.
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