Holders Cuckney cruise into the last 16 with win at Loughborough Town
Holders Cuckney marched on into the last 16 of the ECB Club Championship with a powerful nine wicket away win in their third round game at Loughborough Town on Sunday.
That booked them a trip to Smethwick of the Birmingham Premier League on Sunday, 7th July.
Vice captain Tom Ullyott said: “We won the toss and chose to bowl with so much rain around in the local area.
“There was a bit of a damp patch on the wicket and the bowlers bowled really nicely, Joe Worrall especially up front got their two most dangerous players out. It set the tone a bit.
“Then the spinners came on Adam and Nick plus Richard and all picked up some wickets.
“It was a really competitive performance by the bowlers which was nice to see.
“We did lose an early wicket in our chase which was down to, shall we say, a lack of concentration with running with Tom Rowe.
“I think he just turned and ran and didn't really see where the ball was.
“But then Nick Keast and James Hawley both scored half-centuries and it was pretty comfortable in the end.
“But Loughborough are a decent side and the scorecard is probably a bit of an injustice to them really.
“With no game the day before we were keen to keep our foot on the gas and we put in a nice, clinical performance.”
Asked to bat first, Loughborough were bowled out for 121 in 35.1 overs, Sanath Corjuvenkar scoring 25 and Jai Modhvadia 26.
Joe Worrall took 4-17 from six overs for Cuckney with 3-25 from eight overs for Nick Keast.
After losing Tom Rowe with seven on the board, Keast then also shone with the bat with an unbeaten 65 as he and James Hawley (51 not out) combined for a partnership of 116 that saw them home at 123-1 in just 19 overs.
On facing Smethwick next, Ullyott said: “Bilal Shafayat, who used to play for Cavaliers is one of their main players and they also have Zain Latif, who was at Wollaton
“So we know a couple of their players and it will be another very tough game.
“They beat Knowle and Dorridge who have historically been a very good side on the national spectrum.
“We have a couple of league games before that but we're looking forward to it.”
Cuckney's Nottinghamshire Premier League trip to West Bridgfordians on Saturday was rained off and this Saturday they host a visit by Papplewick & Linby, whose home clash with Wollaton was cancelled last weekend.
“The top three or four sides were all off last weekend, though Hucknall managed to get a game in and they won,” said Ullyott.
“So there was not too much damage for us and we are now working towards the Papplewick game.
“They can be a hard side to beat so we will have to be on our A game.”
Welbeck went down by seven wickets in a rain-affected Nottinghamshire Premier League game at Hucknall.
Welbeck were put into bat and made 130-9 in a reduced 30 overs due to a stop-start day with overs being lost to the weather.
Opener Luise Reece hit 35 with 28 for captain Richard Stroh, Dom Wheatley claiming 3-16 from five overs.
After more rain the home side were set a new target of 110 from 24 overs under Duckworth-Lewis rules.
And they cantered home to 112-3 in 19.5 overs, Jamie Tapper with 25 not out, seeing them over the line with Sam Johnson (21 not out) after Daniel Blatherwick had added 23.
“It was one of those fixtures, unfortunately,” said Welbeck captain Richard Stroh.
“We lost the toss and were put into bat. It was on and off with rain and the overs got reduced every time we went off, so it was difficult to get into a rhythm.
“We posted 130, but under Duckworth-Lewis when we lost two wickets in the last over our total went down instead of up, which was a bit of a tricky one.
“We ended up having to defend 110 in 24 overs.
“We didn't get early wickets though we got a few in the middle which halted them a little bit and brought us back into the game, pushing the run rate to over six an over.
“But one partnership hit 12 or 14 in one over which took the game away from us.
Welbeck are at home to West Bridgfordians this Saturday and Stroh added: “We are back at home again and the weather is supposed to be good.
“I always fancy us at home if conditions are good and it is a chance to get back to winning ways.
“We have a lot of things to work on but we will be ready for Saturday.”