Notts Premier League Cricket

Leaders leave it late to see off strugglers.

Welbeck Colliery maintained their outstanding early-season form with a 59-run victory over struggling Wollaton at the John Fretwell complex.

The home side batted first at Wollaton's invitation and they closed on 242-5 thanks mainly to 91 from Matt Higgins.

Wollaton just missed out on a draw when they were dismissed for 183 with four balls of the match remaining.

James Godrich has been a beacon of hope among Wollaton's woes this term and his excellent form continued with an unbeaten 77, supported by Josh Bembridge with 34.

Luke Waterhouse has had a good season so far with the ball for Welbeck and this was reinforced with his return of 5-44.

This result leaves Welbeck three points ahead of second- placed WI Cavaliers who kept up the pressure on the leaders when they defeated Mansfield Hosiery Mills by seven wickets.

Visitors Cavs won the toss and inserted the home side and this proved to be an astute call by skipper Usman Afzaal when they skittled the home side for 154 in 44.2 overs.

Three Test players shared nine of the wickets to fall – Alex Tudor with 3-28, Saqlain Mushtaq 3-46 and skipper Afzaal grabbing 3-26.

Only Sudesh Fernando provided any solid resistance for Mansfield with 65.

The Cavaliers overcame their target for the loss of three wickets inside 33 overs. Morteza Ali led the charge with 59 not out supported by Afzaal with 38 and Aaron Thomas with 34. Matt New took all three wickets to fall, finishing with 3-42.

Kimberley recorded their second win of the season after defeating a struggling Papplewick side at home.

Home skipper Sam Ogrizovic called correctly at the toss and chose to field first and will have been satisfied in restricting Papplewick to 214-9 at the high-scoring Private Ground.

Bowers caught the eye with 76 and Brad Matthews with 41 assisted, with Richard Adams leading the Kimberley attack with 3-51.

The home side made light work of their target, winning in the 41st over for the loss of only three wickets. Jon Terry (72) and Ogrizovic (61) laid the foundations, before Nick Langford's unbeaten 40 saw them home.

The Nottinghamshire Academy held on for a draw away at Caythorpe. The home side won the toss and had first knock and ended on 219-7 with major contributions from Jim Hindson (42) and Steve Allcoat and James Oldham (both 39).

For the Academy, George Bacon and Adam Dobb grabbed a couple of wickets each.

The Notts innings never really got going and when Sam Kelsall was fourth out with only 53 on the board, things looked bleak. But Olly Swann with 41, supported by Parkin-Coates and Hutton, ensured that three batting points were secured when the county side closed on 180-8. Hindson rounded off a good day in claiming 3-38.

The final game of the day saw a comprehensive 143-run defeat for Kiveton Park at home against Cuckney.

The visitors batted first and posted the day's highest total when they declared in the 46th over on an imposing 315-3. The experienced pair of Will Butler (95*) and Richard Stroh (68) led the assault with solid support from Elliot Hind with 59 and Adam Burgess with 68.

Kiveton hung on until the last ball of the match when they succumbed for 162 with only Adam Dutton's 42 standing out. The wickets were shared among the Cuckney attack with Luke Wood grabbing 4-36.

CAYTHORPE 219-7 in 50 overs (17 pts) drew with Notts Academy 180-8 in 50 overs (8 pts). For Caythorpe: S Allcoat 39, J Oldham 39, J Hindson 42 and 3-38. For Notts Academy: O Swann 41.

Papplewick 214-9 in 50 overs (5 pts) lost to KIMBERLEY 215-3 in 40.4 overs (20 pts). For Papplewick: T Bowers 76, B Matthews 41. For Kimberley: R Adams 3-51, J Terry 72, S Ogrizovic 61, N Langford 40*.

Clifton 267 in 48.5 overs (20 pts) beat BELVOIR 134 in 37.4 overs (4 pts). For Clifton: K Murden 64, L Andrews 49, S McNeill 71, T Lungley 4-47, A Shepherd 4-24. For Belvoir: L Fazackerley 3-96

MANSFIELD HM 154 in 44.2 overs (2 pts) lost to WI Cavaliers 156-3 in 32.4 overs (20 pts).

For Mansfield HM: S Fernando 65, M New 3-42. For WI Cavaliers: A Tudor 3-28, S Mushtaq 3-46, U Afzaal 3-26, A Afzaal 38, A Thomas 34, M Ali 59*.

WELBECK 242-5 in 50 overs (20 pts) beat Wollaton 183 in 49.2 overs (5 pts). For Welbeck: M Higgins 91, L Waterhouse 5-44. For Wollaton: J Godrich 34, J Bembridge 77*.

Cuckney 315-3 dec in 45.2 overs (20 pts) beat KIVETON PARK 162in 54 overs (3 pts). For Cuckney: E Hind 59, A Burgess 68, W Butler 95*, R Stroh 68, L Wood 4-36.

Result given in order of team batting first. Uppercase characters indicate home side.

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