Unstoppable Kimberley go 20 points clear after winning top-of-the-table clash

The visitors came into the game as Kimberley’s nearest challengers, but were soon on the back foot after Harrison Parker (47) and George Bacon (44) shared an opening stand of 87 to lay the foundations for Kimberley.

Seb Sayer (31) and Martin Weightmann (37) continued the momentum as Kimberley built steadily before player-coach Dilhan Cooray provided the late acceleration with an unbeaten 64 to see Kimberley to 226 all out in 49.4 overs.

Jacob Taylor impressed for Hucknall with 4-52 and George Blatherwick chipped in with 2-47.

However, having contributed with the bat, Bacon then took three early wickets – including the crucial one of in-form Greg Willows – to leave Hucknall on the back foot at 53-4.

On a day for all-rounders, Taylor (40) fought back for the visitors as he and Archie Moore (38) put on 62 for the fifth wicket.

But once both had gone, Kimberley were untroubled, bowling Hucknall out for 181 in 42.2 overs.

Bacon finished with 3-37 while Harry Burnhill, Joe Boocker and Alex King all took two wickets each.

Other results: Caythorpe 182-9, lost to Collingham & District 186-7, by three wickets; Clipstone 327-8, lost to Cuckney 368-4, by 41 runs; Mansfield Hosiery Mills 265-9, lost to Cavaliers & Carrington 276, by 11 runs; Papplewick & Linby 239-4, beat Attenborough 236-7, by six wickets; Wollaton 286-9, beat Notts Arnold & Amateur 156, by 130 runs.

The following day saw Kimberley back in action and the contrast couldn’t have been starker as they were thrashed by nine wickets at Derbyshire side Ockbrook & Borrowash in Group Three (Round Three) of the ECB National Club Championship.

Batting first, Kimberley had no answer to the Ockbrook attack as they were skittled for just 82 in 29.4 overs, Arafat Khan the pick of the Ockbrook bowlers with 4-11.

Openers George Brandrick (44) and Joshua Sarratt (20) then all but took care of the run chase on their own as Ockbrook cruised home at 83-1 in 14.3 overs.