Balderton and Collingham cricket clubs fall short at the crease in seventh match
It proved a tough match day for Balderton and Collingham cricket teams with both clubs losing their respective matches on Saturday.
The two teams are playing their first season in the Notts Premier League Division Two, and faced difficult opposition in their seventh match of the season.
Balderton were up against the current leaders West Bridgfordians, who have only lost one match all season.
Balderton, who had the home ground advantage, won the toss and elected to bat.
It was a steady if somewhat cautious start from Balderton as their openers took to the crease and chipped away, attempting to build a respectable total.
The first ten overs went along in a rather modest fashion before soon after, Ryan Charlesworth was dismissed for 15, caught off a Travis Holland bowl by wicket-keeper Alex Winiarski.
Fellow opener Ben Ryder lasted eight more overs before being bowled by Divan Swanepoel, after adding 28 more runs to his team’s total.
Aaron Keverne-Onyon gave an enthusiastic effort after a fairly slow start, hitting 41 runs off 38 balls, before becoming another casualty to Swanepoel.
This time the wicket was by way of a catch by fielder Zac Rahman.
Balderton wicket-keeper Shalith Fernando and club captain Tim Clipsham were now at the crease just after halfway through their team’s innings.
Fernando was run out for 33 with his captain dismissed for 15 a few overs later.
Clipsham’s total included a six and a four before the Balderton captain was caught by the opposing captain Alastair Pettit off a Stuart Plant delivery.
It was at this point that Balderton attempted to rally with middle order batsmen Alfie Morley and Christopher Dobbie scoring 37 and 36 respectively before they too were dismissed.
Tom Shepherd was soon run out for a duck before Balderton ran out of overs, the two surviving batsmen facing a total of two balls with tail-ender Morgan Mullen not given the opportunity to bat.
Balderton finished their innings on 229 for eight.
In reply, West Bridgfordians showed why they are top of the table and came out strong from the start of their innings and won with eight wickets to spare and just under ten overs to play.
Their openers, wicket-keeper Alex Winiarski and captain Alastair Pettit were caught by Aaron Keverne-Onyon and Alfie Morley off the bowling of Aaron Charlesworth (one for 39) and Christopher Dobbie ( one for 27).
Travis Holland on 102 not out and Saad Naseem 15 not out were at the crease when Balderton’s total was passed.
Balderton face another difficult challenge this weekend when they face second-ranked team Cavaliers and Carrington Cricket Club.
Balderton captain Tim Clipsham said it would be a hard task but he believed his team was up to the challenge.
Collingham travelled to Mansfield Hosiery Mills in another difficult fixture.
The away team won the toss and elected to field.
Mansfield Hosiery Mills are third in the division — just above Balderton in the table — and built up an impressive total of 332 runs, losing nine wickets in the process.
Highlights included Mansfield Hosiery opener Kamal Manek piling on 75 from 80 balls before being run out by wicket-keeper Cav King.
Mark Smallwood and Charana Nanayakkara managed solid totals of 70 and 85 for the home team.
A nice performance from Max Shenton was the stand-out for Collingham with a five-wicket haul for 51 runs.
In response, Collingham could not match Mansfield on the day with the bat.
The side fell for a total of 143 all out against one of the stronger sides of the competition.
The best performance with the bat for Collingham was Liam Tew with 47 runs off 49 balls before being caught and bowled by Jamie Lomas.
Collingham now sit eighth on the table out of ten teams.
Collingham will face Welbeck Cricket Club at home this coming weekend with Welbeck currently sitting mid-table.
