Cuckney denied Notts Premier League title on rain-hit last day

Chasing a hat-trick of titles, Cuckney finished just three runs short of their victory target away to relegated bottom team Mansfield Hosiery Mills.

The hosts had posted a total of 244-9, but after rain had interrupted play, the defending champions knew the number of overs for the run-chase would be seriously curtailed.

They gave it the bravest of goes in just 29 overs, but after a tense finale, they were on 242-8 when running out of time, resulting in a weather-hit abandonment.

They still picked up 14 points, but given that they had led the table by only three, that tally wasn’t enough to prevent Cavaliers and Carrington overtaking them and snatching the title by three points after they had picked up the maximum 20 in an easy win at home to Attenborough.

Credit must also go to Hosiery Mills for batting so well against the leaders. Opener Anuk Fernando led the way with 92 (four sixes and nine fours) off 86 deliveries, and when he departed, Daniel Harris hit 74no, including three sixes and five fours.

Harris then took 5-60 from nine overs with the ball, although the Cuckney batsmen held sway, most notably skipper Nick Langford, who led by example, lashing a magnificent 124 (three sixes and 18 fours) off only 79 balls.

Langford was well supported by James Hawley (42, nine fours) in a stand worth 84 and by Tom Ullyott (39, one six and five fours) in a stand worth 81.