NOTTS PREMIER LEAGUE: first defeat puts Cuckney's title on hold

Stunned Cuckney's second successive Notts Premier League title was put on hold when they suffered their first defeat of the season against closest rivals, Plumtree.
Skipper Nick Langford, who tried hard to get Cuckneys innings going.Skipper Nick Langford, who tried hard to get Cuckneys innings going.
Skipper Nick Langford, who tried hard to get Cuckneys innings going.

Cuckney knew that victory would have wrapped up the champions’ crown. But instead a total of 216-9 was not enough at Plumtree, who raced to an easy six-wicket victory on the back of a brilliant, unbeaten century by Olly Soames (106no, three sixes and 11 fours).

The result cut the leaders’ advantage to 16 points, so they now need five points from their last fixture, at home to bottom-of-the-table Welbeck this Saturday, to finish the job off. Plumtree are away to Radcliffe-on-Trent in their final game.

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Soames’s run-a-ball knock was supplemented by 41 from opener Sam Storey as the hosts made mincemeat of Cuckney’s bowling attack, reaching their target in only 38 overs. Earlier, the visitors’ batsmen had also struggled to hit top gear, although skipper Nick Langford made 43, Dan Wood 32 and Simon Mugava 31.

Elsewhere, mid-table Mansfield Hosiery Mills were hammered by six wickets at home to West Indian Cavaliers after they were bundled out for 119 against the bowling of Adam Tillcock, who took 6-24 in 11 overs. No fewer than 94 of the Millers’ runs were scored by the three New brothers as skipper Tom hit 55, Joe 20 and Matt 19. Cavs needed only 19.2 overs to knock the runs off in the hands of Dominic Williamson (46no) and Hassan Azad (36no).