Hucknall claim derby-day honours in opening win over Papplewick & Linby

Sam Johnson and Archie Moore both hit half-centuries for the hosts before Daniel Blatherwick and Saif Ali both claimed three wickets as Papplewick just fell short in a fine run chase in reply.

After winning the toss, Hucknall elected to bat first but it was Papplewick’s Alex Moor who caught the eye early on with three wickets to reduce the hosts to 64-4.

However, Hucknall turned things around with a fine fifth-wicket stand of 90 between Johnson (52) and Moore (73).

Moore hit five fours and two sixes in his knock before some late runs from George Blatherwick (28no) took the home side past 200.

Moor finished with 3-30 for Papplewick, while Freddie McCann took 2-49.

Papplewick made a brilliant start in reply as McCann (51) and Robin Smith (57) both made half-centuries – McCann hitting 10 fours and Smith nine fours and a six – and Ben Shaw made 36 as the visitors looked to be cruising at 158-2.

But a mini collapse followed as they lost four wickets for eight runs with Daniel Blatherwick (3-44), Ali (3-40), Jake Wright (2-46) and George Baltherwick (2-24) all chipping in.

Zerai Tomlinson (31) fought back again for Papplewick but when he fell to Ali, the task proved beyond the visitors as Ali and Daniel Blatherwick mopped up the final three wickets to secure the win for Hucknall.