Heading into the final games of the season, with seventeen now played in the Owzat Cricket Nottinghamshire Premier League Premier Division, it’s Cavaliers & Carrington CC who still lead the way in the top division, with fourteen points splitting the top four clubs.
However, it would be defeat for them, and fourth place Papplewick & Linby CC, aiding in that closure of the gap at the top, Cuckney CC, and the defending champions Kimberley Institute CC, sandwiched between.
A low-scoring game at Plumtree would see the hosts dismissed for just 180 runs, Ishraj Jandu top scoring with 51 as Adam Ahmed 4-27 and Adam Tilcock 3-31, dominated with the ball, however, the leaders, Cavaliers & Carrington, would find themselves being dismissed cheaply in return, falling for just 163 as only three of their batsmen managed to break into the twenties, Kyle Simmonds with an impressive 3-7 and Callum Dring 3-35 to grab a seventeen run victory.
Second place Cuckney CC would see off Gedling & Sherwood CC, skittling their visitors for just 132 (in 36.2 overs), opener Chrissy Lawrence hitting 40 as Nelon Pascal took 3-19 and Richard Bostock 3-29; replying, the hosts, with a revised target, reached 126/2 in 26.2 overs for an eight wicket victory, Ewan Laughton 40 n/o and Nick Langford 39 n/o.
Kimberley Institute CC meanwhile, they edged hosts Clifton Village CC, by twenty-two runs having posted 246/8, George Bacon knocking 87 n/o, Adam Shepherd’s 4-69 just about holding the Kimberley attack, in reply meanwhile, Clifton managed 227/9, Shepherd hitting 52 with the bat, Alastair Walters 57, George Scottorn having taken returns of 3-39.
Papplewick’s title challenge took a hit when they fell to a seven wicket loss at home to Hucknall CC, who are in fifth, the hosts posting 246/6 as Callum McKenzie knocked 75 and Ben Trevor-Jones 69, the visitors making 249/3 in reply when, even though the openers fell for single figures, there would be unbeaten knocks from both Hassan Chaudry 113 n/o and Sam Johnson 75 n/o, seeing Hucknall to victory.
The remaining games in the top division would see the T20 cup winners, Wollaton CC, defeat hosts Attenborough CC by 25 runs, Daniel Andrew hitting 70 n/o for the visitors, and Notts & Arnold CC won by sixty runs when home to Radcliffe-on-Trent CC having posted 241/6, Dilhan Cooray with 57 n/o and Jack Taylor 49 n/o.
Meanwhile, in Division Two, West Bridgfordians CC are the front runners, leading by just six from Mansfield Hosiery Mills CC, whilst four points split the next four sides in Balderton CC, Cavaliers & Carrington CC 2nds, Welbeck CC, and Caythorpe CC.
The leaders, they battered visiting Thoresby Colliery CC by 182 runs after registering 280/8, Alastair Pettit with 55 and Alex Winiarski 47, then proceeded to dismiss their bewildered visitors for just 98, Zak Rahman, 6-17, taking a six wicket haul.
Mansfield Hosiery Mills CC won by seven wickets away to Webeck CC as Charana Nanayakkara hit 97 n/o (from 61) for the victors; Balderton CC would lose by a solitary wicket when away to Caythorpe CC in a low-scoring game, they shared just 225 runs as Mark Footitt took 4-10 and Hussain Ahmed 3-5, and Ryan Charlesworth 5-32, on what was definitely a game for the bowlers.
Cavs 2nds meanwhile won by three wickets at home to Clipstone CC, the visitors registering 242/8 with James Hubball making 81, Cavs meanwhile edged home on 243/7 thanks mainly to Muhammad Yasar with 62, and 40+ knocks from both Sharharyar Aslam and Yohance McKenzie.
The remaining fixture would see Collingham & District CC defeat visiting Cuckney CC 2nds by six wickets, the hosts dismissing their visitors for 148 before reaching the target in half time, making 150/4 for the win, Oliver Dyson seeing Collingham home with a stand of 59 n/o.
On Sunday, Plumtree capped off a brilliant weekend to beat Attenborough by six wickets, Kyle Simmonds 83 not out, whilst Kimberley Institute, in the National Cup, were beaten by Nantwich to fall out at the Quarter Finals stage.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NottsPrem action between Kimberley & Cuckney from the previous week.
