Sunday XI Go Down In Thriller
The Sunday XI batted first at Hucknall Rolls Royce & sailed past the 200 mark despite none of the batsmen posting fifty. A solid all round effort with Matt Dean (40), Eddie Lee (43), Callum Jayes (35) and a few other teens & twenties, saw a final total of 205-8 from the full 40 overs.
Unfortunately the effort with the ball was not quite as good as the effort with the bat
as an opening partnership of near on a hundred put Rolls in charge. Kyle Welch took 2-23 from his allotted 8 overs to give us a glimmer of hope as Rolls wobbled, but some wayward bowling and 25 extras helped Rolls over the line seven wickets down with just eight balls remaining.
MOM Kyle Welch
2nds Come Unstuck
On an unusually inconsistent wicket at GLA, the Seconds batted first in a promotion battle against Wymeswold.
It soon became apparent that run scoring was going to be difficult with the ball misbehaving on a tired surface. Only Jordan Jackson with a battling 34 made any significant contribution with the bat as we were bowled out in the final over of the innings for 118.
Despite taking five Wymeswold wickets, the target was passed and the recent winning run was over. With leaders Kinoulton losing to East Leake the promotion race is also a very tight affair with a number of Clubs vying for the two promotion places.
MOM Jordan Jackson
1sts Hammer Radcliffe!
Yes you read the title correctly, Radcliffe were put to the sword by the 1st XI at the side of the A52.
Having first use of a good batting track, Radcliffe were soon on the back foot as two early strikes from Dickon Perry put Calvo in the ascendancy. A recovery then followed, but Brinsley Kirkham got amongst the wickets again taking 4-54 from his allocation of 16 overs, another fine effort. By the time the 48 overs were up, Radcliffe had posted 215-8. Not a huge score but most certainly a competitive one given the frailties of Calvertons batting this season. What followed was nothing short of remarkable as Skipper Scot Andrew & Darren Wright put on 170 for the first wicket, before Darren was out for a jug avoiding 92! Eddie Lee joined the Captain & together knocked off the remaining runs without further alarm with a whopping 7 overs in hand.
The only low point of the day was the unfortunate injury to DFD who broke a bone in his arm attempting to take a catch. Hope the recovery is a speedy one Beef.
With bottom team Newstead recording their first victory of the season over third bottom Kirkby Portland and Calverton beating fourth bottom Radliffe, things are really tightening up at the bottom. Has The Great Escape begun? Lets hope so.
MOM Darren Wright, just gets it. Nice to have a choice!
Plumtree Thrash 1sts
Another bad day at the office for the 1st XI at Plumtree where the hosts racked up an imposing 265-6, with another host of catches going to ground. DFD & Brinsley Kirkham emerged from the carnage with some credit in the bowling figures column, but in the main it was an eminently forgettable effort.
It did not get much better after tea, three batsmen got into the twenties and that was about it. Bowled out for 146 - a good hiding!
Sunday XI Go Down To Gotham
With most of the batsmen getting starts, it was a shame that none of them could go on to a bigger score. Bilal Waheed top scored with 39 and all of the top seven made a contribution of sorts but did not go on. Still 157-9 from 40 overs was something to post but probably 30-40 runs shy.
The target was passed comfortably by our visitors despite Matt Ingham taking 3-11 from just 3 overs.
MOM Matt Ingham
Seconds Continue Winning Ways
A superb display of bowling lead by Dickon Perry, Michael Nester & Kyle Welch saw visitors Oxton soon in trouble at GLA. They never really recovered as the ball swung prodigiously for most of the innings. The tail wagged a tad but a total of 131 all out should not have posed too much trouble.
However, the top three were soon back in the hutch as Calvertons reply tottered at 17-3. But Ryan Evans, belying his tender years and the belligerent Michael Nester had other ideas. When their partnership had ended on 77 with Michael going for a hard hitting 57 the winning post was in sight. Kevin joined Son Ryan & the target was achieved for the loss of five wickets.
The victory pushes the 2nds back into the promotion places in what is proving to be a very tight league.
MOM Michael Nester 57 and 3 wickets
Kirkhams Efforts In Vain
The Sunday XI made the trip to Balderton and were involved in a super game of cricket.
Batting first on another lovely day, Darren Wright and Brinsley Kirkham put together a terrific partnership on a splendid wicket. When Darren fell for 58, Brinsley batted on and despite receiving little support from the rest, he was eventually out five runs short of a century. A marvellous effort which really deserved a ton; next time! As the teams settled down for tea a total of 195-9 was good but perhaps could have been 20 odd more.
Brinsley then turned chief wicket taker with 3 scalps with further wickets for Billy B, Kyle & Willo. But it wasn't quite enough as Balderton sneaked over the line six wickets down with 6 balls left.
MOM Brinsley Kirkham
Comfortable Win For Nesters Men
Back to back wins as the 2nds made light work of East Leake.
Strangely after winning the toss the E.L skipper asked Calverton to bat as the mercury soared, did he know something we didn't? The Chair & Coach strode out to open the innings and after the fourth ball of the day shot along the floor narrowly missing the Chair's off stump, survival seemed to be the order of the day. The pair were watchful & relatively patient as 44 runs had been added by the time Pickering perished by the twelfth over. When Ryan Evans receievd another grubber he lost his leg peg. But Will Wright joined the Coach and a further 36 runs were added till the Coach finally holed out for a gritty 35. Kevin Evans joined Will and they put a futher fifty on until Will was bowled eight runs shy of what would have been a splendid half century. With the score now moving along to 137-4 and nine overs remaining, Brinsley joined Kev and they batted superbly adding a further 75 runs taking the score to a very creditable 212-4 from 45.
When Will Marris took two early wickets, East Leake were soon on the back foot. Last weeks catching seem to desert the team as two or three easy chances were grassed giving E.L a sniff. However, Brinsley Kirkham (3 wkts), Lewis Wilson (2) and two for Kev saw the hosts bowled out for 144.
20 points and up to third in the league.
MOM Will Wright, super knock at just the right time.
Firsts Hammered
In flag cracking temperatures the 1sts entertained Eastwood at GLA.
Batting first and despite being victims of two shocking LBW decisions, the 1sts rallied to 68-3. However, the wheels then well and truly fell off, as the team capitulated to a paltry 122 all out.
Eastwood had little problem in knocking off the runs for the loss of four wickets. Just 2 points gained and fortunes really do need to be turned around quickly or contact with the teams above will become distant.
MOM Not awarded!
Narrow Win For Sunday XI
A trip to Newark for the Sunday XI was fruitful in a low scoring encounter.
Batting first was hard work with only Billy Bennett and James Cairney getting into the twenties as the score crawled along to 130-9 by the end of 4o overs. A valuable lesson in ensuring all the overs were used however, as this probably made the difference between winning and losing.
After tea, Brinsley (3), Cairney (2), Kyle (2) and Jonathan Smith (2) skittled Newark fifteen runs short of the target. A tremendous effort by these young guys and four priceless points gained.
MOM James Cairney, 21 and 2-21 with the ball
Seconds Grind Out Victory
The 2nds made the short trip to Epperstone looking to bounce back from last weeks reversal against Kinoulton.
John Nester was relieved to have won the toss on a gorgeous sunny day & had no hesitation in batting first. It soon became apparent that the wicket was not going to be easy to score on & all runs would be valuable. Billy Bennett and Ryan Evans hung around & ground out a good partnership after the early losses of Pickering and Leafe. After Billys dismissal, Father joined Son & another useful partnership was put together. When Ryan Fell for 23 and Kevin 44, John Nester and Will Wright both got into double figures by the time the innings closed on 156-8. Not a huge score, but certainly competitive on a slow surface.
The bowlers all then put in a super shift with Kev (3 wkts) and Ryan, Billy B, Mason and Lewis Wilson sharing the remainder. Aided by some good catching Epperstone were bowled out 28 runs short of the target and 18 points bagged.
MOM The Team, collective effort.
1sts Hang On At Gotham
On a hot sunny day, the First eleven visited Gotham & were soon busy in the field as the runs piled up.
The fielding left a lot to be desired as Gotham's centurion made the most of his three innings! Although expensive, Kyle Welch was in the wickets again returning 4-58 and special mention to Matt Dean who bowled 16 overs for 63 runs, considering Gotham totalled 256-8 from their allotted overs, this was a sterling effort from Matt.
In reply DFD lead from the front wracking up his second century of the season, unfortunately there was insufficient support of enough substance to see us over the line as the innings closed on 228-7. Nine valuable points gleaned but it could have been so much more but for those dropped catches.
MOM DFD
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