Kimberley top of the pile after back-to-back bank holiday wins
Kimberley Institute moved to the top of the Nottinghamshire Premier League after a stunning bank holiday weekend that saw them thrash the reigning champions – and then win a thriller by just one run.
Fielding first against league leaders Cavaliers & Carrington, Kimberley took the upper hand to roll over the defending champions for just 133 in 40 overs.
Only Farhan Ahmed (33) really showed for the visitors with the bat as Harry Burnhill and Aatish Kean Maharaj both returned figures of 3-29 for Institute.
Harrison Parker then led Kimberley’s successful reply with 73 and putting on 76 with Burnhill (27no) for the second wicket as Kimberley cruised home by eight wickets.
From a stroll against the champions, Kimberley then endured a nailbiter at Wollaton on bank holiday Monday.
Batting first, Kimberley posted 264-6 in their 50 overs, built around 38 from opener Matthew Campbell amd fourth-wicket stand of 112 between Seb Sayer (74) and Martin Weightmann (70).
Wollaton started well in reply with half-centuries from Hassan Azad (58) and Hamish Llewellyn (51), but when Azad was out, Kimberley looked to have things under control at 152-5.
Wollaton’s lower order had other ideas as they chipped away at the target and Sai Boorghu (26) looked to be taking his side to a memorable win. But Kimberley player-coach Dilhan Cooray had the final word, snatching victory when he ran out out Boorghu off the penultimate ball of match to leave Wollaton all out for 263 – and keep Kimberley’s 100 per cent record intact for another week.