BASSETLAW LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Commanding Clipstone pile on early-season misery for Worksop

Commanding Clipstone Welfare piled on the early-season misery for bottom-of-the-table Worksop in a one-sided clash for Bassetlaw League, Championship points.
Louis Sprigg bowling for Clipstone.Louis Sprigg bowling for Clipstone.
Louis Sprigg bowling for Clipstone.

Worksop were hoping to post their first victory of the new campaign, at the fourth attempt. But instead they bumped into a Clipstone outfit in hot form and racing to a 113-run victory.

The home side posted a total of 210-8 in their allotted 50 overs, with Taylor Wright (34) and Amory Holder (30) their top scorers, defying sound bowling by Andy Stoneman (3-57), Steve Baker (2-40) and Harry Taylor (2-46). But Clipstone won it with a superb bowling display that skittled Worksop for just 97.

The tone was set when Louis Sprigg had captain Chris Taylor caught behind for a duck, and all five Clipstone bowlers went on to take wickets. Man-of-the-match Holder weighed in with 3-20 in 7.5 overs and skipper Ian Woodall (4-5) wrapped up the victory with four wickets from only 24 deliveries. Of the Worksop batsmen, only Ross Wicks (24) and Luke Ambrose (21) threatened to find form,

The result lifted Clipstone to fifth in the table, 13 points behind the new clear leaders, Papplewick and Linby, who bossed a winning draw at home to Anston after recording the highest total of the day in the top flight, 248-7. New signings Sam Ogrizovic (74), the captain, and James Taylor (65) led the way, with Harry Ratcliffe adding 33. In reply, Anston refused to make it easy for the hosts and recovered from 36-3 to strike a commendable 183-6, thanks largely to an unbeaten 58 from Josh Littlewood.

Thoresby Colliery surrendered a share of top spot with Papplewick after a losing draw at Farnsfield, who were indebted to a terrific, unbeaten 101 by Curtis Mitchell in their score of 226-8. The visitors were never really in the hunt in reply, despite 30 from John Skinner and 26 from skipper Mitchell English, and they batted out in the hands of Ben Marson (44no) and Azar Hussain (22no), despite fine bowling by James Bowker (3-32).

Edwinstowe continued their healthy start to the new campaign with a convincing 122-run victory at home to North Wheatley with Leverton. After a solid opening partnership between Adam Dutton (42) and James Peacock (41), they defied an excellent spell by Jamie Bovill (5-39) to register a total of 202-9 before dismissing Wheatley for just 80, with Simon Walton taking 5-26 in seven overs.

Two teams yet to register a win, Whitwell and Retford, staged the most exciting match of the day, sharing a tie after both sides were bowled out for 119. The visitors looked favourites to break their seasonal duck after a blast of 5-31 from Aqib Afzaal and 3-46 from Pascal Broadley. But then Luke Roddison got to work for Whitwell, taking 6-27, including the prized scalp of Usman Afzaal for 43 as Retford somehow crumbled from 76-2 and 104-4.

In the day’s final Championship match, Glapwell Colliery enjoyed a 68-run triumph at home to Notts and Arnold Amateurs after making 212-4, which included knocks of 94no from opener Steve Gooding and 66 from Danny Bircumshaw. The visitors sank to 144 all out.