Contrasting fortunes for relegated clubs

Whilst Papplewick & Linby have made a disappointing start, Farnsfield have moved away to a brilliant one with maximum points from their two matches.

Papplewick batted first at Anston and were soon in real trouble.

It was only thanks to Tony Bettridge with 44 and a good late order flurry from Gareth Blinkhorn (36) that they achieved the modest total of 169 all out which one figured was nowhere near enough on this smallish ground. Andrew Ruczenczyn (4-43) was his usual tidy self whilst Amila Perera, who never lets you down, was as potent as usual with 3-28.

The reply came fairly easily as Anston claimed maximum points with Josh Marsh (46) and that man Perera (65 not out) showing that batting is fairly easy when you know how to do it. Anston have made the perfect start with two maximum points hauls.

Farnsfield simply walked all over promoted Killamarsh, who were dismissed for just 98.

James Bowker ripped through the top order to take 3-26, and this poor total was soon passed as Farnsfield cruised to 100-5 with Zach Richmond-Dixon once again showing all his class with 34 and skipper Curtis Mitchell (32) easing their way to victory.

Clipstone absolutely butchered Thoresby Colliery by a massive 140 runs at Seventh Avenue.

Batting first, Clipstone were indebted to Lee Wilson (35) and Josh Flowers (48) whilst Jack Willis bowled well for an overworked Thoresby attack, taking 3-50 as Clipstone ran up 213-5.

After their run feast of last week, one expected Thoresby to make a fist of this, but they collapsed dramatically to 73 all out.

Had it not been for 32 runs from Farook Aziz one dreads to think what the score might have been.

They simply had no answer to Jason Gorman (3-21), Louis Sprigg (3-30) and West Indian Justin Braithwaite (4-19), who ran through some rather tepid resistance.

Glapwell batted first against North Wheatley with Leverton and thanks to Danny Bircumshaw (75) and skipper Matt Page they amassed 184-7 in their 50 overs.

This looked a terrific score as North Wheatley collapsed to 41-4, but a brilliant innings by their new recruit from Wiseton, Matt Loates turned the game completely around.

Loates never gave a chance and put the bad ball away with style on his way to a brilliant 105 not out.

North Wheatley finished on 185-7 with seven balls remaining to claim a quite magnificent three wicket win.

Kiveton Park gained a meritorious winning draw over the other promoted side, Caythorpe II, in a keenly fought encounter.

Prolific run scorers Adam Whiteley (45) and Richard Grainger (39) were eclipsed by young Tom Haslam who scored an excellent 54 as Kiveton reached a useful looking 212-6.

Caythorpe fought back strongly, with Richard Beaumont making 49, but they finished just 21 runs adrift with a single wicket standing as Chris Storey (3-53) and James Gilbert (4-30) bowled superbly to try in vain as it turned out to give Kiveton an outright victory.

Notts & Arnold Amateurs put behind their disappointing display against Glapwell last week to trounce Worksop by 77 runs at Central Avenue. Batting first, the brilliant Notts & Arnold skipper Dilhan Cooray registered his first league century of the season, scoring 107 while 15-year-old Liam Patterson-White helped the scoring rate along with a well made 30 runs. The final total looked good with 207-8 certainly setting a real task for Worksop, for whom Bernhard Beukman with 4-56 was their most potent bowler.

This proved a massive mountain to climb and only Luke Ambrose (34) applied himself to the job in hand.

Liam Patterson-White again showed what a talent he is, taking 4-17 and Liam Brown (3-28) ripped out the rest of the batting to leave Worksop all out for 130.