Farnsfield and Thoresby serve up a feast of runs
by Paul Barker, 6th July 2008

On a day when three matches failed to survive the weather, the game at Fourth Avenue between Thoresby Colliery and league leaders Farnsfield served up a glut of runs as a near perfect wicket saw a total of 624 were scored with only eight wickets lost all afternoon.

Three centuries were recorded, two by Farnsfield and it could so easily have been three and one by Thoresby as the busiest people on the ground, the fielders of both sides ran themselves into the ground in a vain attempt to halt the flow of runs.

The ball raced to the fence with amazing rapidity with 15-year-old Sam Wood leading the charge. Everyone knows my opinion of the ability of this young man and he confirmed everything that has been said about him with a magnificent 142 runs with a series of strokes all around the wicket. Don’t run away with the idea that this is a powerful player, it is sheer timing, he simply leans on the ball and it’s at the fence before you have time to blink!

South African wicket-keeper Damion Crowley added to Thoresby’s misery with a sparkling 98 runs before being caught at the wicket off Shailesh Patel who deserves credit for taking the three wickets to fall at a cost 82 runs, a tremendous effort in the circumstances. Crowley was so unfortunate not to have joined the centurions, as he looked a safe bet from a long way out.

The last thing anyone needs when a side is so much in command is to see Paul Franks striding out to the crease when everyone is feeling totally spent. It quickly became a case of ‘lambs to the slaughter’ as Franks then totally dominated the scene racing to 107 off just 58 balls. Farnsfield’s final total of 373 for 3 was a staggering score from 50 overs and averaged out at a huge 7.46 runs per over. Who needs 20/20 cricket?

The thirty-minute tea interval gave Thoresby time to re-group and to their eternal credit they made an excellent fist of things as they replied with a highly commendable 251 for 5. Thoresby’s Australian star Thomas Rickarby set out even with a painful knee injury to show that anything Farnsfield did, he could equal and he proceeded to do so. Rickarby made a brilliant 123 n.o. from just 119 deliveries an extremely commendable effort and with Nigel Birkett putting in his usual solid performance with 51 the victory that Farnsfield craved was never going to happen.

Sam Wood captured 2 for 38 to complete a great all-round day for this talented individual and the final words must be a compliment to both Martin Cheshire for preparing such a fantastic wicket and Nigel Birkett’s work on the outfield that was lightning fast. Both deserve a medal as big as a dustbin lid!

Waleswood whose introduction to the Championship Division was a big win over Retford, saw a more full strength side turn out for the return at Cricket Field Lane and another emphatic victory but this time the other way around.

Smarting from that opening day reversal, Retford looked as though they were in for another tough day as Martin Long and Gareth Davis took the score to 78 before Waleswood lost a wicket. From that point it was downhill all the way for Waleswood as Long (37) and Davis (31) were the only players to provide much exercise to the scorers writing hand as a procession followed.

Sam Shepherd (3 for 14) and Chandra Kumara (2 for 29) simply sliced through some non-existent resistance to have Waleswood all out for just 121.

This target proved simplicity itself for Retford who are now beginning to put some form together and Darren Spooner (60 n.o.) and Pascal Broadley (37 n.o.) saw the side home to a very comfortable eight wicket win. Since that first match, Waleswood have found things much more difficult than they could have believed whilst Retford after a sticky start are now gathering momentum.

There is simply no stopping Eckington in Division 1 and the result between themselves and the bottom club Ransome and Marles turned out to be a complete whitewash in favour of the league leaders. Ransomes were quite literally blown away for a paltry 56 runs as J. P. Devilliers (3 for 3) and Steve Nicholas (3 for 11) completely wrecked them.

In reply a cavalier style 27 by skipper Andy Thompson saw Eckington flash to 59 for 1 to give them their easiest victory yet this season. Ransomes are now in an awful mess after being promoted to the top section two years ago. It seems to have knocked the entire stuffing out of them and they have a heck of a task to prevent a second consecutive relegation trip.

Anston continue their march in second place with a six-wicket victory over Blidworth. Batting first, Blidworth put on a gutsy display with Andy Watson (31), Hamanyo Kabir (41), Karl Mayes (30) and Craig Turton (34) all batting well. The only criticism you could throw at them is after four players got started like these had done; surely one of those should have gone on to even bigger things!

A swap around at the top of the Anston batting saw Mark Parkinson open the batting with overseas star Patrick Gada and this worked splendidly. Parkinson had not been in the best of form this season, but he left all that behind him as he lashed a sparkling 71 runs. Gada also weighed in with 30 and skipper Andy Forster with a swashbuckling 42 and Michael Norbury (24 n.o.) finished the job in style. Anston are keeping close to Eckington’s shirt tails and look a good bet to make it this time around.

Caythorpe 2^nd completely ‘blew away’ Welbeck 2^nd on a wicket that did give the bowlers quite a bit of help. Not that it was ever dangerous, it never is at Caythorpe, but it did seam about quite a bit and 14 year old James Mann was a revelation taking 2 for 5 as Welbeck were dismissed for a rather pathetic 78 runs.

Although they lost three wickets the result was never in much doubt as Caythorpe sailed to 79 and victory. Richard Coleman (20) top scored and they keep the pressure on both Eckington and Anston in clear third place.

Mansfield and Pleasley have shown much better form of late and they continued this trend with a terrific four wicket win over Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd at Chesterfield Road. Batting first Hosiery Mills were totally indebted to Stephen Gooding who made a brilliant unbeaten 74 to help his side out of the huge hole they had dug for themselves. Ian Woodall (2 for 31) and Matt Page (2 for 52) were the pick of the Mansfield & Pleasley bowlers as Hosiery Mills were limited to 172 for 7.

In reply Australian Brad Sengstock was once again in great form scoring a superb 55 and Matt Page contributed a fine 50. The rest all chipped in and they reached 175 for 6 without too many scares along the way. Ryan Weaver (2 for 23) was the pick of the Hosiery Mills attack and they now seem to be the inconsistent form team of this Division. Anybody who writes them off will be in for big shock and against a team you would expect them to beat they are likely to slip up.

Whitwell slumped to another reverse as they struggled to a losing draw against Papplewick & Linby 2^nd. Batting first, Papplewick reached a commendable 197 all out with Richard Arberry (37), Jamie Peat (37), Adam Bettridge (43) and Matt Alford (35) all making telling contributions. Whitwell were not without their bowling heroes and Darren Westerby (3 for 41), Andy Shaw (4 for 44) and Matt. Goodwright (3 for 39) all chipped in with good stints.

This target proved a few too many for Whitwell who closed on 162 for 7 with Craig Sadler (46) and Matt Goodwright (41 n.o.) both batting well. Steve Alford (4 for 24) was his usual economical self as Papplewick picked up the lion’s share of the points. I still remain to be convinced that Whitwell are a poor side. I feel sure the ability is there and why they are down at the foot of the table with Ransomes is a complete mystery. They need to find some form rather quickly now though.

After a confidence boosting win last week, Worksop slumped back against the West Indian Cavaliers 2^nd and suffered a narrow two wicket defeat. Batting first, Worksop made only 123 all out with Thomas Dangarembizi top scoring with 31. Zubin Faisal (4 for 24) and Kenny Tuitt (3 for 25) were the wicket takers for the Cavaliers and victory at this stage looked assured.

In reply wickets were sent tumbling at regular intervals and the Cavaliers arrived rather unsteadily at 124 for 8. Had it not been for Kamran (is he really an amateur) Afzaal making 42 the result might have been very different, but Worksop really needed to score a few more runs.