Balderton CC fall to bank holiday defeats to Clipstone CC and Anston CC in the Nottinghamshire Premier League

Balderton began their first of two bank holiday fixtures with a six-wicket home defeat to Anston on Saturday as their difficult start to the Notts Premier League season continued.

The visiting captain Josh Littlewood won the toss and gave first bat to Balderton in conditions which suited the bowlers.

Striker bowler Nathan Crookes (3-17) did the damage first up, removing three of Balderton’s top five - including skipper Ryan Charlesworth for five and the prized wicket of Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Shalith Fernando (8) - to leave the hosts wobbling on 40-5.

Balderton’s middle and lower order dug in, with Chris Dobbie (20), Aaron Charlesworth (13), Morgan Mullen (15) and Jamie Gilbertson (16) helping to drag the hosts into three figures.

But none could build on their starts as Sam Taylor (3-26) helped bowl Balderton out for 114 with eight balls left unbowled of their 50-over allocation.

Alex Dickinson gave Balderton early hope when he had Anston opener Anthony Roddis caught behind by Fernando for four in just the second over.

Josh Marsh and Luke Hall then put on 54 for the second wicket, but when Ryan Charlesworth removed Marsh and then Crookes in the space of three balls with the score on 60, there was a chink of hope.

Charlesworth (3-35) struck again to finally prise out Hall with the score on 95, but Buddika Karawgodalage (28 not out) saw Anston to their target with almost 13 overs to spare.

Balderton: R. Charlesworth 5, C. Neshaharan 5, S. Fernando 8, T. Clipsham 2, J. Attewell 2, C. Dobbie 20, A. Charlesworth 13, M. Mullen 15, J. Gilbertson 16, D. Pinfold 2, A. Dickinson 0*, Extras 26. Total: 114.

Anston: 118-4.

Bowling: A. Charlesworth 9-2-23-0; A. Dickinson 9.2-0-29-1; R. Charlesworth 10-1-35-3; D. Pinfold 9-2-23-0.

Notts Premier League Division Two

BALDERTON v CLIPSTONE

Clipstone won by 9 wkts

The batters struggled again as Balderton were thrashed by Clipstone on Bank Holiday Monday to fall to their fifth straight Notts Premier League defeat.

Balderton enjoyed a comfortable six-wicket win the last time these sides met on the second weekend of the season, but this time succumbed to a nine-wicket home defeat.

Put into bat in tricky batting conditions once more, Taylor Wright (4-19) single-handedly blew away Balderton’s top four as the hosts quickly found themselves on the back foot at 25-4.

There was little respite offered by Hemings Patel (3-10) and Chris Fletcher (2-4) as Balderton were dismissed for 72 in 38.2 overs, with only opener Aaron Charlesworth (13) and Jamie Gilbertson (18) reaching double-figures.

Hopes of inflicting early inroads were blunted by Clipstone openers Adam Dutton and Shan Levy who put on a well-paced opening stand of 52 from 68 balls.

Daniel Pinfold caught Levy off his own bowling for 19, but Levy (33 not out) steered his side towards the target before James Hubball delivered the coup de grace with a four and six in successive balls to complete victory inside 13 overs.

The result leaves Balderton second-bottom of Division Two ahead of Saturday’s trip to basement side Thoresby Colliery who have lost all seven of their fixtures this term.

Balderton: R. Charlesworth 3, A. Charlesworth 13, S, Fernando 4, Joe Attewell 0, C. Dobbie 3, M. Mullen 5, J. Gilbertson 18, D. Pinfold 8, A. Dickinson 5, S. Clipsham 1, M. Smart 0*, Extras 12. Total: 72.

Clipstone: 73-1.

Bowling: A. Charlesworth 3-0-16-0; A. Dickinson 3-0-17-0; R. Charlesworth 3-0-14-0; D. Pinfold 3-0-16-1; S. Clipsham 0.4-0-10-0.