Defending Owzat-Cricket Nottinghamshire Cricket Board Premier League champions, Kimberley Institute CC (128 pts), have begun the new campaign with a win and a loss, after narrowly claiming the title, by two points, from Cavaliers and Carrington CC (126 pts), and Radcliffe-on-Trent CC (126 pts), in 2021.

Now, a couple of matches into the new campaign, and with an all-new, Division Two to enjoy over the summer months, it is that Cuckney CC (4th) and Papplewick & Linby CC (5th), who’ve started off well, both claiming two wins from their opening two fixtures.

Meanwhile, Division Two started last weekend, with five sides all winning and claiming eight points – it could take a little time to split the runners and riders between that of Balderton CC, Cavaliers and Carrington CC, Clipstone CC, Mansfield Hosiery Mills CC, and West Bridgfordians CC.

As Kimberley started their title defence with an eight-run defeat away to Hucknall CC, for whom Ben Martindale, and Hassan Chaudry hit 62, and Sam Johnson 44, Dominic Wheatley with 89 in reply for the visitors; the first win was registered last time out when they defeated visitors Plumtree CC by six wickets with James Hindson taking 5-34 and the visitors all out for 160 and Patrick Delahunty hit 55 of his sides’ 164-4 reply.

At the top of table, the early pace-setters of Cuckney CC, leading Papplewick & Linby CC and joint-second Radcliffe-on-Trent CC, by four points, have picked up two comfortable wins from two outings, by 75 runs away to Notts & Arnold CC, and by five wickets against Clifton Village CC (there’s also been a Preliminary Round, four wicket win over Newtown Linford CC, in the ECB National Club Championship).

Those two league successes however, the opener would see Cuckney post 323/4 against Notts & Arnold, opposing bowler, Dilhan Coohray, eventually getting the big-hitting opener of Nicholas Keast (128 from 119), whilst William Butler top-scored with 156 n/o (from 142); against Clifton Village meanwhile they’d post 163/5 before bowling out their hosts for 159 as both Tom Ullyott and Josh Porter scored 52 n/o apiece.

Papplewick & Linby CC won both their first games by 27 and 44 runs respectively, the first, at home to Clifton Village, saw both sides being bowled out, five Papplewick batsmen registering double figures with Brent Williams 47 (from 52), and Ben Trevor-Jones 44 (from 84); meanwhile, in the second, away to Attenborough, posting 323/7 and Williams knocking off another 149 runs (from 122) whilst being assisted by a strong innings by Louis Bhabra, 58 (from 61) whilst both Ben Shaw and Harry Franklin notched big in reply, 84 and 82 respectively, Ben Bhabra’s 4-65 though keeping the response down.

In the Club Championship Preliminary, there would be defeat in their game, losing by 71 runs to Doncaster Town CC, the visitors posting 2-2 all out, before skittling out Papplewick for just 131 with Ben Trevor-Jones, Jim Rhodes, and David France the only ones to pass the twenty run mark.

Radcliffe-on-Trent CC, tucked in nicely in the top three, have won one, and tied the other of their opening two games, beginning the campaign with a four wicket success over Gedling & Sherwood CC, they posting 215/6, and 104 n/o (from 129) from Oli Soames, a target comfortably met with balls to spare, the response coming at 220/6 with Rob Sutton 65 (from 99), James Hawley 45 (from 72), and Jack Towers 41 (from 44).

They followed that up with a tied game away to Hucknall CC, opening with 291/7, the hosts finishing on 291/9 as William Masojada struck 57 (from 64) for Radcliffe whilst that of Rob Sutton, Jack Towers, and Hishaam Khan, all past the forty run mark with Waseem Fazal taking for 3-42; in reply both Sam King and Sam Johnson registered centuries, 115 (from 110) and 118 (from 108) respectively, Khan taking a five wicket haul in response (5-44).

As for the new, Division Two, Balderton CC began the season with a seen wicket success away to Cuckney 2nds, bowling their hosts for 196 before finishing on 200/3 in reply, Shalith Fernando with 100 n/o (from 82) and Tim Clipsham 60 (from 37).

Cavaliers & Carrington CC 2nds defeated Welbeck CC by six wickets, bowling out their visitors for 159, before knocking out 163/4 in reply, Muhammad Yasser impressing with 3-7 and four maidens, in his ten overs bowling whilst teammates Saqlain Basmi, and Harrison Tagg, knocked 55 and 46 respectively.

As for Mansfield HM, they saw off Thoresby Colliery CC by five wickets, after the hosted batted first and posted 234/8 ably assisted by a half century from Ximus Du Plooy and a good innings from John Skinner, however, Mansfield opener, Kamal Manek, fired an unbeaten 124 n/o (from 118) to help his side home.

Of the other two victors, West Bridgfordians defeated Caythorpe CC by three wickets, and Clipstone CC edged Collingham & District CC by 28 runs.

Saturday, in the Premier Division, the three, in-form sides, are all at home with Carrington & Cavaliers CC (four wins and a loss) hosting Hucknall CC, Cuckney CC (four wins and loss) home to Attenbrough CC, and Radcliffe-on-Trent (four wins and a tie) welcoming Clifton Village CC, whilst Division Two’s two form teams are also on home turf as Balderton CC host Clipstone CC, and Welbeck CC welcome Thoresby CC.

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*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @PeterBacon last seasons champions Kimberley beat Plumtree last weekend.