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Great weekend for Eastwood's teams
Eastwood Town CC round-up
by Ryan Esson
Eastwood first XI caused arguably the biggest upset of the entire South Nottinghamshire League last Saturday after a fantastic winning draw away against high-flying Southwell.
On a sunny day at Sookholme, Eastwood were asked to bat first by Southwell.
Their plan looked to be working early on as Ejaz Ahmed edged a rising ball to Whelan at first slip in the seventh over.
But Eastwood had other ideas, with Shaun Stocks and Steven Leese batting positively against the Southwell bowling attack. The pair batted well, scoring 33 and 42 respectively, helping to steer Eastwood past the 100 mark inside the 23rd over.
Steve Wright helped to bring Southwell back into the match, claiming six middle order wickets as Eastwood stumbled to 161 for 7 with just a handful of overs left, with only Imran Azam looking comfortable at all scoring 35 runs.
However, Eastwood captain Neil Gregory stopped the rot with some big hitting late in the Eastwood innings, finishing 45 not out as Eastwood ended their 48 overs 222-8. Wright finished with superb bowling figures of 6 for 73.
Southwell began their reponse in a similar fashion to Eastwood, losing their first wicket in the seventh over.
However the rest of their run chase was based on someone dropping anchor rather than several decent scores as happened with Eastwood.
That man was Tim Green, who scored a patient 71 before being bowled by Luke Elderkin as early wickets fell at the other end.
He perhaps batted a little too patiently, as it took him 39 overs to score his runs. Southwell needed an unlikely 82 more from just nine overs to secure victory.
To Southwell’s credit they made a valiant attempt to try and claim the victory, mainly thanks to Stuart Grimley who hit a rapid 34.However wickets fell at regular intervals and Southwell finished 24 short of their target on 199 for 8.
Four Eastwood bowlers, Ul-Haq, Elderkin, Logden and Summers claimed two wickets apiece.
Eastwood travel to Gedling Colliery this Saturday before hosting a Popkiss Cup tie with Loughborough Carillion on Sunday.
Seconds win again
Eastwood’s second XI made it five wins a row in Division F as they secured an impressive eight-wicket victory over Oxton last Saturday.
They didn’t have it all their own way as Oxton’s opening partnership of Ricky Martin and James Crudington put on 66 for the first wicket.
With the experienced Mike Berry at the crease with Crudgington it was never going to be easy and Crudington looked to press on, passing his half-century with a crunching four through the covers, but then Eastwood got a vital breakthrough with captain Mark Smith bowling Crudington with a deceiving slower ball.
The Oxton batsmen, with the exception of Berry, seemed to show very little resistance as they scored only 27 runs between them.
Berry was dismissed for 42 with little more than an over left trying to hit the ball out of the ground. Matt Murfin picked up three late wickets for Eastwood as Oxton finished their 45 overs 152 for 8.
Eastwood got off to a great start in their chase of the 153 runs required, with the rock solid opening partnership of Ryan Buckley and Smith putting on another great stand, scoring 60 runs for the first wicket before Smith was caught in the outfield for 21.
Tom Buckley joined his son at the crease and the pair made hay in the sunshine, but it came as somewhat of a surprise when Ryan was bowled for 48.
But there was no cause for concern as the experienced Adam Leigh joined Tom at the crease, with the duo reaching the 153 required without any further loss of wickets.
Thirds ease past Long Eaton
Eastwood Town’s third team maintained their second place standing in Division R with a comprehensive nine-wicket win against a strong Long Eaton 3rd XI.
Long Eaton batted first at Hall Park and may well have put any spectators watching to sleep as only four runs were scored in the first 12 overs, with bowler Paul Summers claming six consecutive maidens.
The main reason behind the slow start was Iwan Thomas, who remarkably batted out the entire 45 overs for just 44 runs. He received a little support at the other end, Dulston and Simnett both got into double figures and Ayoub scored a quickfire 29 towards the end of the innings.
Long Eaton finished their 45 overs 128 for 8, with Eastwood captain Steve Wyer the pick of the Eastwood bowlers, claiming 3 for 34, with Jake Humphries and Bryan Towle chipping in with two wickets each.
Eastwood started brightly and openers Steve Dockrell and Nick Elderkin kept their scoring rate at five an over.
Only one wicket was lost in Eastwood’s chase, the victim being Dockrell who was caught for 52.
Elderkin finished 40 not out with Noble 21 not out as Eastwood knocked off the 129 target in just the 24th over.
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Weather for Eastwood
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
