BASSETLAW LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Papplewick back on track as leaders Farnsfield squeeze home by one run

The runs flowed when two of the title-chasing big guns clashed in The Championship of the Bassetlaw League -- but it was Papplewick and Linby who came out on top after a narrow defeat of Clipstone Welfare.
BOWLED HIM! -- Clipstone all-rounder Jason Gorman loses his middle stump, bowled by Papplewick and Linby hero Charlie Blatherwick.BOWLED HIM! -- Clipstone all-rounder Jason Gorman loses his middle stump, bowled by Papplewick and Linby hero Charlie Blatherwick.
BOWLED HIM! -- Clipstone all-rounder Jason Gorman loses his middle stump, bowled by Papplewick and Linby hero Charlie Blatherwick.

With James Taylor compiling a magnificent century, Papplewick amassed a formidable total of 273-5 in their allotted 50 overs. But Clipstone refused to be daunted and a brave run-chase ended on 253 all out with two overs remaining.

Taylor’s knock of 135 contained three sixes and 13 fours and he shared stands of 136 for the second wicket with opener Joe Walker (39) and 95 for the third wicket with Leon Botha (48). All after skipper Sam Ogrizovic had perished for a duck.

Clipstone’s challenge was spearheaded by captain Lee Wilson, who whacked a run-a-ball 90, laced with five sixes and nine fours, and polished opener Amory Holder, who struck 57 (ten fours). However, it came unstuck against an inspired spell of bowling by Papplewick youngster Charlie Blatherwick, who took 6-56 from 15 overs.

The result earned Papplewick a full quota of 20 points and kept them hard on the heels of leaders Farnsfield, who scrambled home by one run in a thriller away to struggling Glapwell Colliery. Considering they were 129-3 at one stage, the visitors were disappointed with their total of 175, even though it featured 57 from Callum McKenzie and 40 from Martin Mitchell. But it proved just enough as they rolled out Glapwell for 174, with home batsman Luke Smith left stranded at the death on 56 not out. The top dogs’ bowling hero was David Loveridge with figures of 5-34.

Third place in the table, just above Clipstone, is held by Thoresby Colliery, although they had to play second fiddle to North Wheatley with Leverton in their latest fixture. Muhammad Yasar took 5-45, but the hosts posted a terrific total of 240, which included 87 from skipper Jonny Loates, and Thoresby could muster only a losing draw when making 188-6 in reply, despite 57 from Mitchell English and 49 from Lee Willis.

There was also a draw at Cricket Field Lane, where Retford held on for dear life at home to Notts and Arnold Amateurs. Former Notts CCC all-rounder Usman Afzaal took 4-62 as Amateurs hit 206-9 on the back of 65 from Samuel Ecob. Afzaal then led the run chase with 51, backed up by 47 from Aqib Afzaal and 40 from Amit Kundra. But with Jordan Finney taking 4-36 and Dilhan Cooray 3-51, to add to 33 he made with the bat earlier, Retford’s reply ended on 197-9, agonisingly close to outright victory for both teams.

At The Rookery, the division’s bottom two teams clashed, with Worksop bagging their first win of the campaign, defeating Whitwell by three wickets. Good bowling by Richard Snowden (4-26) and Andrew Stoneman (3-36) dismissed the hosts for 161 before Worksop got home in the hands of Luke Ambrose (58).

The last match of the week resulted in a heavy eight-wicket defeat for Edwinstowe at home to Anston after they were skittled for 107, despite 43 from James Peacock. The visitors’ heroes were Amila Perera (4-8) and Callum Smith (56no).