Leaders make light work of chase for runs

ROUND 18 of the Owzat-cricket Nottinghamshire Premier League resulted in leaders Kimberley Institute remaining top of the table, thanks to a six-wicket win at home to Radcliffe-on-trent.

The visitors were given first use of the batting surface at the 2bm Ground, struggling to 13 for two. Connor Marshall (33) built a partnership of 55 with Rob Sutton, before Sutton was joined by Jake Fish in a stand worth 84. Sutton was dismissed for 52, while Fish finished unbeaten on 86, having added an unbroken 62 with Muhammad Usman, who hit 30 from 15 balls to push the total to 246 for six. The home side made relatively light work of the chase, reaching 247 for four in the 40th over.

Cavaliers and Carrington started the day in second spot, and may well expected a straightforward time at home to second from bottom Caythorpe. The visitors won the toss and opted to bowl, James Hindson (three for 23) helping reduce Cavs to 95 for six. They were all out for 217.

With Dobson and Lyndon James at the crease putting together a 71-run stand, a shock looked on the cards. James (56) fell shortly after making his half century and from there it became a case of holding on for the draw. They did that to close on 152 for eight.

Cuckney took advantage of the Cavs not winning to leapfrog them into second with an edgy win at Wollaton by one wicket. The home side won the toss and chose to bat, being kept in check by Cuckney, they set a total of 180 all out. Tom Keast’s 77 was the tentpole on which the Cuckney innings was centred. When he was out to make the score 126 for five, Cuckney looked well set. The bowlers had other ideas and they limped over the line, nine down.

Plumtree consolidated their grip on fourth place with a six-wicket win at Hucknall. The home side were asked to bat and with Josh Downie in fine form, made it to 91 for one, thanks to 63 from Downie. They were all out for 158. After the early loss of Oliver Soames, Chris Gibson and Saad Ashraf took the game away from Hucknall. The pair put on 122 for the second wicket to effectively end the contest.

Farnsfield are in the top half of the table after their four-wicket win at Mansfield Hosiery Mills. The Millers set 197 for nine, thanks in no small part to Savin Perera’s kknock of 84. In reply, Solomon Budinger made 50 as Farnsfield reached 115 for five. It was plain sailing from there though as the target was reached with 13 overs to spare.