Kimberley edge a thriller to stay unbeaten in the Premier League
George Bacon starred with bat and ball as Kimberley Institute made it four at four in the Notts Premier League with an eight-run success over Mansfield Hosiery Mills.
The visitors won the toss and chose to bowl and Kimberley made a solid start as Matthew Campbell (32) and Harrison Parker (27) put on 54 for the first wicket.
Mansfield pegged Institute back to 125-4 but then Bacon and Harry Ratcliffe took control with a superb sixth-wicket stand of 95, Bacon playing the anchor role with 65 off 101 balls, while Ratcliffe was more aggressive in making an unbeaten 61 off 57 with six fours and two sixes as Kimberley finished on 251-7 in their 50 overs.
However, Mansfield started impressively in reply as half-centuries for Kamal Manek (52) and Sheridon Gumbs (50), backed up by Aman Patel (33) saw them well placed at 145-2.
Two wickets for Bacon and 3-44 from Matthew Campbell put the brakes on but Charana Nanayakkara (54) looked to be taking his side to victory – until Bacon had the final word to finish with 3-22 as Mansfield were all out for 243 with eight balls left.
Kimberley continued their good form the following day with a five-wicket win over Derbyshire side Denby in the ECB National Club Championship.
Batting first after winning the toss, Denby never really got going in the face of some good Kimberley bowling.
Charlie Wilson made 33 for the visitors but Harry Burnhill, George Scottorn and Alex King all picked up two wickets each to restrict them to 162-8 in 40 overs.
Harrison Parker then took centre stage for Kimberley, almost single-handedly taking care of the run chase with a butal 103 off just 35 balls with six fours and 12 sixes.
He put on 131 with Campbell – who made just 19 – for the first wicket and when he was second out with the score on 142, the job was done as Kimberley cruised home with more than 20 overs spare.