NOTTS PREMIER LEAGUE: leaders Cuckney demolish title rivals

Opening batsman James Hawley on his way to a half-century for leaders Cuckney in their win over Kimberley.

Third-placed Kimberley began the match only 22 points behind the leaders, but ended up 40 in arrears after Cuckney swept them aside by 152 runs.

Given first use of the track, they made a fine total of 260-6 in their allotted 50 overs after a solid start, provided by openers James Hawley and Gareth Purshouse, who shared 51 for the first wicket.

Purshouse became the first of four scalps for the home side’s best bowler, Alex King (4-44 in 12 overs), when he was caught for 31 (six fours), but Hawley went on to top score with 78, which included one six and eight fours.

After both Will Butler and Tom Ulyott had fallen cheaply to George Bacon (2-65 in 12 overs), Hawley put on 51 for the fourth wicket with skipper Nick Langford (17). But the best partnership was saved for last once Hawley had departed on 162. For Simon Mugava (54no from 33 balls, three sixes and five fours) and Arosh Janoda (40no from 38 balls) blasted an unbroken stand worth 98 for the seventh wicket, firing six sixes between them, and taking the game out of Kimberley’s reach.

All-rounder Janoda then grabbed the new ball and proved his worth as a bowler too, removing home opener Matt Dean in the opening over of Kimberley’s reply and going on to take 4-19 in a terrific eight-over spell.

Big guns Sam Johnson, Tom Rowe and Dominic Brown also fell to the Sri Lankan, and although opener Bacon stood firm, Kimberley’s run chase never got off the ground and they slid to 108 all out inside 38 overs.

Bacon finished on 48no (six fours), but the only notable support he received came from number nine Somair Chaudry (24) as change bowlers Mugava (3-22 in 11 overs) and Hawley (2-13) rubbed in Cuckney’s supremacy.

At the other end of the table, Farnsfield eased their relegation worries with only their second win of the season as they beat mid-table Mansfield Hosiery Mills by 25 runs to move off bottom spot.

Electing to bat first, Farnsfield made a respectable total of 211, losing their final wicket in the last over. The Millers were hopeful of knocking them off, but ended up trying to hang on for a losing draw, which was foiled by the visitors, who removed their opponents’ last man with just two balls to spare. Attenborough are now bottom, 13 points adrift.

A BOWLER who has just been awarded a contract with newly-crowned Lord’s heroes, Nottinghamshire CCC, was the scourge of Welbeck in their latest Notts Premier League fixture.

Seamer Matt Milnes took 5-29 in 11.2 overs to help roll out Welbeck for just 76, in response to title-chasing Plumtree’s 178-7.

With support from Ishraj Jandu (2-29), Milnes had the visitors in trouble from the off, with opener Gurpej Landa (24, one six and four fours) and seasoned campaigner Richard Stroh (10) the only batsmen to muster double figures. The innings was wrapped up in the 33rd over as ex-Notts spinner Greame White took 2-6 in ten overs, eight of which were maidens. White also made 63 with the bat as Plumtree recovered from a sticky start against fine Welbeck bowling.