Farnsfield close the gap in Bassetlaw League

With Clipstone having no match, Farnsfield pulled up to within four points of their Championship title rivals with a comprehensive beating by nine wickets of Kiveton Park at Stone Close.
Kiveton Park v Farnsfield. Pictured is Farnsfield batsman Curtis MitchellKiveton Park v Farnsfield. Pictured is Farnsfield batsman Curtis Mitchell
Kiveton Park v Farnsfield. Pictured is Farnsfield batsman Curtis Mitchell

Had it not been for an indiscretion which saw the league deduct 10 points off Farnsfield, they would be six points clear at the top now, but things are getting very interesting all the same.

The match at Kiveton was virtually a walkover for Farnsfield, who demolished the opposition by nine wickets.

Kiveton were bowled out for just 94 with Jamie Wagstaff (3-23) and James Bowker (3-26) being much too good for some feeble resistance.

This score was never going to be enough and that was quickly proved as Curtis Mitchell blasted five towering sixes in a blitzkrieg 52 and with Matt Sisson (36 not out) keeping him company.

The target was reached in a rapid-fire 9.2 overs.

Several weeks ago, Clipstone looked certainties to take the title, but it would take a brave man to back them now. Whatever happens the rest of the season is going to be very interesting.

The ‘shock of the day’ took place at Sturton Road, where North Wheatley with Leverton annihilated the in-form side Papplewick and Linby by a massive 123 runs.

Jonathan Loates (40), Matthew Loates (33) and Jamie Sizer (49) all made vital contributions as North Wheatley amassed 198-9. The ever reliant Jim Rhodes (4-69) was at his best and another victory looked on the cards at the break.

It was not to be, however, as Jamie Sizer (3-19) and Callum Harrison (5-24) bowled Papplewick out for just 75.

Nobody could see this coming as Papplewick had been in such dynamic form going into this game, but these shocks keep coming along to keep us all baffled.

Glapwell were easily dispatched by Thoresby Colliery at Park Avenue with an emphatic eight wicket margin being the difference.

Batting first, Stephen Gooding as usual kept the score moving along, but when he was dismissed for 47 the wheels fell off as Jack Willis (6-19) and Aqib Farook (3-13) tore the heart out of the rest of the batting.

In reply, despite losing two early wickets, Thoresby coasted to victory with Australian Chris Bennett (75 not out) and Nyeem Ahmed (31 not out) making light work of the job in hand.

Anston sunk to another defeat at the hands of Worksop, this time by 23 runs and are in really poor form at the moment.

Batting first, Worksop made 176 all out with Conor Smith (33) and Liam Ainger (33 not out) top-scoring whilst Andrew Ruczenczyn (5-60) was the pick of the Anston attack.

Facing only a modest total, Anston batted dismally with only Amila Perera (40) and Ian Barley (52 not out) showing any sort of form as four players failed to register a run between them.

They were bowled out for just 153 and the ironic point for Anston was that it was one of their former players Andrew Stoneman (4- 22) who did most of the damage. Worksop are now producing their best form of the season and are showing they will be a match for anyone.

A real thriller took place at Goosedale where Notts & Arnold Amateur sneaked a two wicket win over Caythorpe II with just nine balls to spare.

Batting first, Caythorpe were reliant on their skipper Andrew Staszkiewicz (33) and John Kneale (31) whilst Scott Leivers with 4-56 was the best of the Notts & Arnold bowlers.

Leivers was highly unfortunate not to have recorded even better figures as he was the victim of some dreadful fielding which saw several easy catches grounded.

These indiscretions looked as though they would come back to haunt them as Tim Haines made a fantastic opening burst as Notts & Arnold slumped to 13-3 taking three wickets with the prize scalp of Dilhan Cooray included.

However a good stand between Jordan Finney and 15-year-old Liam Patterson-White turned the game around before Geoff Crook (4-44) shifted it back once again.

The real star was Patterson-White who made an absolutely brilliant 77 and looked so good in doing it.

When he was out the match could still have gone either way but Notts & Arnold just scrambled home with very little to spare.

Tim Haines bowled quite brilliantly to take 3-40 and Caythorpe could count themselves unfortunate to lose a match that they had contributed so well to.

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