PAPPLEWICK AND LINBY 144
KIMBERLEY 145-4

Back in early May, Kimberley swept to a seven-wicket win over Phil DeFreitas's side after rushing them out for only 97.

And it was a similar story in the return match at Newdigate Street when Papplewick were again let down by their batting.

The defeat had a big impact on the league table too. For with all their rivals winning, the locals sank from first spot to fourth, 16 points behind leaders Caythorpe, and their next test is a daunting away match against champions West Indian Cavaliers.

Last term's runners-up, Kimberley, won the toss and appeared to sense that Papplewick might be suffering a hangover from their agonising disappointment in the Cockspur Cup the previous week.

Their new-ball bowlers, John Shaw (two for 11 in 8.3 overs) and Jason Gorman (two for 41 in 13 overs), put the pressure on immediately with the tightest of opening spells that yielded only 23 runs from the first 14 overs.

Notts CCC starlet Luke Fletcher (26) tried hard to get things moving but when both DeFreitas and Sri Lankan import Kosela Kulasekara both fell for one, Papplewick were on the rocks.

Anchorman opener John Wakeling (33) followed soon afterwards to end an innings of almost two hours before Taimoor Khan, who stayed 80 minutes for 30, showed similarly dogged application.

But despite knocks of 15 from Charles Dagnall and Richard Winton, Papplewick were always second best to the excellent Kimberley attack, which also featured commendable performances from Aussie Josh Mangan (three for 28 in 11 overs) and Matthew Wright (one for 24 in eight).

After tea, the tabletoppers refused to give up the ghost without a fight and removed four of Kimberley's frontline batsmen cheaply to leave them 42 for four.

Fletcher (one for 18 in nine overs) bowled Shaw for 13, Jim Rhodes (one for 17 in seven) had Alex Heslop caught behind for 11, Richard Hodgkinson (one for 51 in 12.5) had Mangan caught behind for two and Dagnall (one for 26 in six) caught and bowled Tom Cowlishaw for six.

But from then on, Kimberley restored their initiative and took complete control – thanks to an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 103 in 21 overs between Gorman and Mick Blatherwick.

Man-of-the-match Gorman, who once played Sunday football in Hucknall, made 52 not out, including two sixes and seven fours, while Blatherwick, who has strong Hucknall connections, made 50 not out, including eight fours.

Gorman wrapped up the win in style, hammering Hodgkinson for successive boundaries in the 42nd of the allotted 50 overs.