Wollaton share honours with Clifton

Wollaton reached their target with four balls to spare to record a five wicket win over 2008 champions West Indies Cavaliers and share honours at the top of the Notts Premier League with Clifton.

Wollaton who travelled to Birchover Park won the toss and put the home side in to bat. Despite losing four early wickets, Cavaliers recovered well to finish with 198 for nine off 50 overs with Andy Haye unbeaten on 88 and sharing a fifth wicket stand of 72 with Michael Millwood.

Wollaton’s Nick Ellsmore, the club professional who hails from Melbourne University in Australia, took 3-43. The visitors then set about their target and reached 200 for five just four balls short of the 50 overs to register the win, Scott Elstone 59 not out and Tom Savill 38 not out.

Clifton had the most comfortable win of the day at home to Mansfield Hosiery Mills. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat but were restricted to 124 all out in 46 overs, the homeside’s bowlers all sharing in the wickets.

Clifton hit the winning runs in 28 overs, losing five wickets to reach 127 with James Hollingsworth unbeaten on 40, taking them equal top of the table with Wollaton.

Kimberley lost their 100% record at Cuckney, who were seven wickets down when the overs ran out to secure a winning draw. Kimberley won the toss putting the home side in to bat and they scored 261 for five off their 50 overs, Richard Stroh hitting an unbeaten 60 supported by Adam Burgess (55) and Will Ullyott (37 not out).

Nigel Porter took 4-52 for Kimberley who replied with skipper Mick Blatherwick scoring 71, Jon Shaw 52 and Dominic Terkowski 34 not out to steer them to 254.

Caythorpe travelled to Plumtree where they lost the toss and were put in to bat by the homeside. They then hit 381 for three, the highest score of the day with Guy Welton scoring 173 including 16 fours and seven sixes and sharing an opening stand of 204 with James Hawley and a second wicket stand of 171 with Josh Mierkalns who made 82 from just 40 balls with 12 fours and four sixes.

It was a big ask for Plumtree even with new signing Matt Wood (Notts.CCC) making his debut but they battled through their 50 overs reaching 157 for five to earn a losing draw, Adam Imrie 48 not out and Caythorpe’s skipper Jim Hindson taking 5-47 off his 15 overs.

Welbeck, who over the winter lost the services of former Notts CC operner Darren Bicknell to Leicestershire club Belvoir and wicket keeper Tim Jack, who retired, were at home to Attenborough, both sides in search of their first win of the season. The home side won the toss, asked Attenborough to bat and they scored 204 for 9 off 50 overs, Alec McKinlay making 54.

Martin Dobson was in form again for Welbeck, scoring an unbeaten 100 and sharing in partnerships of 102 with Matthew Higgins (33) and 103 with Vikram Atri (50 not out) to reach the target of 205 for 1, registering a 9 wicket win.

Papplewick played host to Farnsfield, newly promoted from the Bassetlaw League as 2008 champions, and were given a testing time by Paul Franks' side who have been putting in the hard yardss over the close season to equip them for the challenge of stepping up to the next level.

Put in to bat, Papplewick made 211 for nine off 50 overs, stalwart John Wakeling scoring 91 and Farnsfield’s David Loveridge taking 4-70. Franks (50) and Michael Bell (46) helped Farnsfield toward their target but the Papplewick bowling attack restricted them to 200 for six in 50 overs, the home side earning a winning draw.