Clifton claim Notts crown

The final day of the season in the Nottinghamshire Premier Cricket League saw leaders Clifton Village cruise to victory against Attenborough to make certain of the 2009 crown with a five point advantage over rivals Caythorpe.

Clifton won the toss and chose to field, the home side scoring 170 for six off their 50 overs with keeper Shaun Fitzgibbon top scoring with 45 not out, Peter Turner making 37 and Sam Clulow 31.

Clifton’s Alex Turner took 4-49 off 11 overs and when they replied they reached their target in 40 overs, finishing on 165 for two thanks mainly to an unbeaten third wicket stand of 142 between Liam Andrews, 87 not out and Richard Harris, 51 not out.

So Clifton, league leaders for most of the season, gained 17 points to make sure of the title and the two points gained by Attenborough was enough to keep them out of the relegation places.

Second placed Caythorpe secured the runners-up spot when they travelled to Kimberley. They won the toss, asked the home side to bat first and they scored 170 for six off their 50 overs, stalwart Jon Shaw, playing in his last game before moving to Australia, finishing unbeaten on 55 and Carl Blake scoring 34.

Caythorpe’s Jim Hindson returned the best bowling figures of 2-38 off 14 overs and when they replied they raced to 171 for two in 29 overs with James Hawley making 79 not out in 79 balls with 12 fours and a six. He shared in an unbeaten third wicket stand of 86 with PK Riley (37 not out) to secure a comfortable eight wicket win.

Bottom club Plumtree were at home to Farnsfield, who needed a good result to be able to overhaul Attenborough. Plumtree had other ideas though, losing the toss they fielded first and Farnsfield made 153 for nine off their 50 overs, Damian Crowley scoring 53 and Brett Hutton 31.

Plumtree’s Dallas Coull took 3-29 off 12 overs and Jurgen Charlesworth 3-33 off 12 overs. When the home side replied Ben Storey scored 40 (4 fours) supported by Darren Wright, who made 35 and captain Scott Bailey, who finished unbeaten on 24, hitting the winning runs to take Plumtree to 155 for nine in the 49th over, leaving Farnsfield with just five points and relegated along with Plumtree.

Dave Loveridge returned the best bowling figures for Farnsfield with 3-49 off 15 overs.
Defending champions West Indian Cavaliers were at home to Papplewick who won the toss and decided to bat first but were bowled out for 145 in 37 overs, Orson Nurse taking 4-44. Top scorer for the visitors was captain Martin Bekker with 49 (6 fours, 3 sixes).

The Cavaliers replied and had little trouble reaching the target, scoring 146 for two off 33 overs, Mortaza Ali (53) sharing a second wicket stand of 97 with Steve Atkinson (59 not out).

Cuckney were at home and completed their most successful season in the Premier League, beating Mansfield Hosiery Mills by 49 runs to finish in third place. Having won the toss the home side chose to bat, making 216 all out in 48.5 overs, Adam Burgess (54) sharing a 2nd wicket stand of 85 with captain Will Butler (44, five fours) and supported by Richard Stroh with 32 (4 fours).

Sudesh Fernando took 4-24 in 5.5 overs for Hosiery Mills but they could not match the required rate when they replied and were bowled out for 167 in the 50th over. Hosiery Mills skipper Keshera Jayasinghe top scored with 39 and Cuckney’s Richard Stroh took 4-14 in 10 overs.

Last but not least, Welbeck were at home to Wollaton in the mid-table clash, which produced the highest score of the day. Wollaton won the toss, elected to bat and made 294 all out in 47.3 overs, Tim Young scoring 75, Scott Ellsmore 72 and Karl Glendenning 43.

Captain Jon Ball took 4-67 in 14 overs for Welbeck who then had 52 overs to reach the target but fell short on 267 for seven. Noel Gie hit 104 with Jon Ball finishing unbeaten on 35. Scott Elstone returned best figures for Wollaton with 3-78 in his 15 overs, the visitors registering a winning draw.