Papplewick & Linby suffer blow to semi-hopes

They were beaten by four runs after a battling collapse to leave them in third spot behind Kimberley and Cuckney.

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat, finding runs tough to come by as Papplewick’s bowlers made them work for every run.

Top score in the innings was 22, with only two batters getting into the twenties.

Gareth Blinkhorn claimed 4 for 10 from his 8 overs as Cuckney were restricted to 145 for 9.

But Papplewick were in early trouble in reply at 11 for 2. They rallied to 57 for 2 before slumping again to 79 for 7.

Tom Bowers (33*) tried to marshal the tail until with just five runs wanted from 7 balls the final wicket was taken. Richard Bostock took bowling honours with 4 for 8 from 8 overs.

Hucknall picked up their first win of the campaign against fellow strugglers Mansfield Hosiery Mills.

Mansfield chose to field after winning the toss. Opener Robin Maxwell (44) featured in a pair of half century stands, 63 for the first wicket with George Buckthorpe then 52 with Sam Johnson (46).

From that foundation Hucknall were able to total 184 for 8, Alan Duncan’s 3 for 37 helping to hold them below 200.

The Millers reply was hampered by the loss of wickets at regular intervals, with four bowlers all claiming a brace of victims.

Only Joshua Dykes was able to resist in any meaningful sense, reaching his half century from 94 balls on the way to a score of 60. Hosiery Mills all out for 145.

Champions Kimberley boosted their hopes after cruising to a 68 run win at Caythorpe.

Highlight of the innings was a fine 94 from Jack Nightingale coming from 63 balls.

Martin Weightman then made a rapid 43* as Kimberley made 259 for 3 from their 40 overs.

Caythorpe’s reply was a one man show with Tom Hart taking the innings by the scruff of the neck after the loss of an early wicket.

He scored 104, a ton that included 8 fours and 6 sixes in the 73-balls it took.

When Hart departed for 104, the chase withered away with Caythorpe all out for 191.