Friday 31 July 2009

Radcliffe Win Battle At The Top

The top-of-the-table clash in A between Radcliffe-on-Trent and Notts Unity Casuals lived up to all the hype.

And it was Radcliffe who were celebrating after clinching a nail-biting two-wicket win to extend their lead at the top to 31 points.

Unity's innings never really got going, although they were given a decent enough start in the shape of Brian Baptiste (46) and Simon Neal (24).

Neal looked in sublime form until Michael Bratt held on to a difficult chance at cover. Usman Mussafer (26) and James Marshall (24) both made starts but a total of 169 was below par on a decent enough track.

Eddie Torr impressed, particularly in his second spell, finishing with 5-27.

After tea, a healthy crowd were treated to a superb spell of seam bowling from 16-year-old Kafeel Shaffique who picked up six of the first seven wickets to fall.

Rob Brookes stood firm but with the exception of Richard Fentum (27), his support was poor and at 104-7, the honours looked like they were going the way of the visitors.

However, Torr (25) decided that attack was the best form of defence. Brooks (76*) was simply brilliant, never offering a chance and together with an unlikely hero Chris Holden (17*), the pair got to the target with two overs remaining.

Southwell remain third after a comfortable home win over Calverton, who are running out of games to save themselves.

The bottom club managed only 137 with 16-year-old George Bacon taking a five-wicket haul. After a few early wickets fell in the reply, Bacon (49*) got together with Matt Davis (44*) to ensure a comfortable win.

Belvoir increased the gap between them and the rest below in fourth with Eastwood (101) hanging on for a losing draw. There were more runs for professional Darren Bicknell, 139 out of 220. Tom Neville weighed in with 38 to set the home side a testing challenge.

In the chase, only Imran Azam (38) threatened, but was dismissed at 81. Regular wickets fell and Belvoir looked odds on for outright victory at 90-9. However Shaun Stocks and Luke Elderkin dug deep and defended successfully for 12 overs to deny the visitors.

It looks like its going down to the wire at the bottom with both Gedling clubs recording positive results. Colliery had mainly Shane Pidgeon (90) to thank at home to Balderton, however the innings was given a boost towards the death with a blast of 37 from just 12 balls from Michael Bailey, whose cameo included four sixes.

Chasing 221 for victory, Balderton managed only 85-6 before stumps were drawn. At 60-6, Gedling may have sensed an outright win but there were no further dismissals with Jeff Burton (3-23) the pick of the attack.

At West Park, Long Eaton's Tim Taylor again ploughed a lone furrow in the top order. Taylor struck 54 as none of the remaining top six recorded double figures.

At 37-5, things looked very bleak, but battling knocks from Alan Villiers (36) and 15-year-old Jack Harrison gave the final total (143) a modicum of respectability. Gedling & Sherwood have sorely missed Shaun Carmody (4-27) and Alex Norton (3-35) for the majority of the season.

The reply was not without its trials and tribulations. Alan Villiers (1-21 off 16 overs) was miserly in the extreme, while there were a couple of wickets apiece for Craig Mellors and Leon Botha.

However, with contributions from John Gell (39), Jerry Cruise (31) and Samrat Sharma (25), the visitors eventually got home in the penultimate over.

At the top in B, there were wins for Gotham Village and Hyson Green Caribs.

Gotham's victory came against a weak Kimberley II side who could do nothing to stop the visitors recording 258. After tea Kimberley failed to make three figures with Brad Moore (3-32) the pick of an impressive attack.

Caribs bowlers were again on song, restricting form team Loughborough Carillon to just 95 in their 48 overs. The highlight of the first half was an impressive spell of bowling from skipper Liaquat Ali who took 4-14 in his 16-over spell with Taufseer Shah the back-up with 3-27.

There were jitters again for the Caribs, though, with six wickets falling in the chase before the experience of Monty Douglas (30*) saw the winners home. Defeat for the visitors was a touch harsh on Toby Waistling (34 and 3-23).

Rolls Royce have not given up hope of promotion and recorded a six-wicket win at Newstead Village (138). An unchanged spell of 5-39 from Saleem Karim restricted the losers and then brother Rahim finally got in the runs with an unbeaten 53. Nick Hand (2-32) bowled well for Newstead but things may have turned out differently if he had held on to a caught-and-bowled opportunity when Karim was on nought.

Hucknall did their survival chances a power of good with a 17-point winning draw at home to Clifton Village II. Yet again it was Robin Maxwell who took centre stage, striking his fifth century of the season and passing 800 runs in the process.

His innings of 143 was not without chances, though, with Clifton passing up five catches and a missed stumping.

Chasing 287 to win, Clifton had a chance at the half way stage on 120-1 thanks to Nick Silverwood (78) and Matt Handley (54). However it was the spin pairing of Jamie Braybrook (5-63) and Adam Scott (2-56) that applied the brakes. Wickets then fell regularly with Clifton ending on 209-8.

Keyworth will not give up hope of avoiding the drop just yet, climbing off the bottom with a second successive victory. Visitors Ellerslie posted 189 with Ian Graham grabbing five wickets. Graham then top scored with 65, yet it was Tony Newby (53*) who steered the winners home, despite five victims for the division's leading wicket taker, Husnain Riaz.

The promotion race in C took more turns with defeats for West Bridgfordians and Kirkby Portland. The former will have been disappointed with 163 at home to Plumtree II after being given such a good start by skipper Jon Sheard (68). The score proved insufficient as Charlie Kingsbury (55) and Steve James (49) saw the visitors home.

Kirkby Portland (146) also came second best at Bottesford (202) which left the way clear for Collingham to return to the top. David Pipes struck 101 and David Coote Jnr 54 in a total of 247. Visitors Attenborough survived reasonably comfortably for the losing draw on 194-6, thanks to Tom Buckel (74) and Ian Baddeley (60).

Down at the bottom, Hickling gained a priceless victory at home to Bramcote. Matt Harby (79) was making the chase for 186 look easy, yet his dismissal with ten overs remaining brought some nerves with victory coming in the final over.

In D, there was a shock for Gedling Colliery II who were completely outplayed by their closest challengers Fiskerton. The winners posted 223 thanks to James Brown (52), Richard Robson (56) and Mark Fish (42). Then it was the turn of Richard Drinkwater (3-18) and Kevin Rees (3-20) to wrap up a comprehensive 126-run win.

Two other promotion contenders, Wilsons and Long Whatton met at Regatta Way and the home side, chasing 122, made a fantastic recovery from 30-6 to tie the score with two wickets intact, only for Mark Lester (4-29) to take the wickets with the score on 122.

It was definitely a day for the bowlers with Nadeem Ghani (6-38) starring for the home side.

It was a bad day for Hucknall II (90) who were comprehensively beaten at Caythorpe III (186) with Matt Daffin (73) and John Kneale (50 and 3-15) showing up well.

Farndon have slid down the table alarmingly in recent weeks, however, their batsmen made a timely return to form with Daniel Hubbard, Andrew Duckmanton and Mark Townrow all striking 50s in their thrashing of Stanton-by-Dale (139).

There is no change at the top in F with Ellerslie II and Eastwood II pulling away from Wymeswold, who came a cropper at Kirkby Portland II.

Ellerslie had Raees Tariq firing a century in a close-fought 16-run success at home to Long Eaton II (203), while Eastwood's 14-year-old Ryan Buckley (56*) continued his fine season in the eight-wicket win at Calverton II (139).

Elsewhere in F, congratulations go to Notts Unity II who recorded their first win of the season at the 13th attempt. It was in some style too, dismissing Oxton for just 92 with young Usman Aziz grabbing three wickets.

Nick Land (51) ensured there were no alarms in the chase.

Gedling & Sherwood II's promotion push in G suffered another setback with a heavy defeat at home to East Leake (184), Rob Grant snaffling six victims in an 81-run success.

At the other end of the table, not even a first senior 50 for James Cousins, 15, could halt Collingham II sliding to a 15-run defeat at Epperstone (180).

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