Weather is the winner as NPL schedule is disrupted

Hucknall v Kimberley.
Kimberley's James Neesham gets their total over the 300 watched by a rueful William Spray. — Hucknall v Kimberley. Kimberley's James Neesham gets their total over the 300 watched by a rueful William Spray.

Caythorpe versus West Indian Cavaliers, Mansfield Hosiery Mills against Clifton Village and Ordsall Bridon’s match with Welbeck were all called off without a ball bowled.

Play started at Cuckney, where Radcliffe-on-Trent’s bowlers carried on from where they left off last week.

After skittling Plumtree for 31 last week it was no surprise when Radcliffe opted bowl after winning the toss.

Lightning looked like striking twice as David Lucas (3 for 15) and Ben Savage (4 for 28) took the top order apart.

Cuckney were able to hang on to compile 90 all out, which had the effect of delaying the game long enough for the weather to force an abandonment.

League leaders Kimberley Institute travelled to Hucknall, lost the toss and were put into bat.

Tom Rowe and Sam Johnson (42) set the platform with a 102 run stand for the third wicket, Rowe making a fine 90 before new Black Cap signing, Jimmy Neesham, bludgeoned 67 from 37 balls to take the total to 302 for 6 from the 50 overs. Jake Libby did his best to stem the tide with 4 for 74.

In reply, Neesham (3 for 26) had Hucknall in early trouble, before Dale Campbell led a recovery fight. He made 40 and added 59 for the third wicket with Scott Harris.

Hucknall were 152 for 8 in the 43rd over when the game had to be abandoned.

Plumtree were able to take full advantage of playing at Lady Bay, winning their match with the Notts Academy to leap back to the top of the table.

After winning the toss, Plumtree asked the county juniors to bat first, a decision that looked unwise with Tom Moores and Christopher Gibson compiling a 60-run partnership.

However, with Moores falling for 39 a flurry of wickets followed, Gibson for 36 being one of them. Only 34 from Paul Franks drove the total up to 194 all out, Hassan Azad (3 for 49) and Bobby Gamble (3 for 60) doing the damage.

Despite losing an early wicket, the run chase would prove relatively serene, as Hassan Azad (97*) and Oliver Soames (79*) put together an unbroken stand of 177 to seal victory by nine wickets with 11 balls to spare.