Balderton suffer narrow defeat to Mansfield Hosiery Mills despite Salith Fernando century

A sparkling century from overseas star Shalith Fernando was not quite enough as Balderton fell to their second Notts Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday.

Fernando hit 103 off 94 balls as Balderton chased a stiff target of 238, but the visitors fell just 21 runs short in the Division B clash.

A wicket apiece for Ryan and Aaron Charlesworth and Daniel Pinfield reduced tMansfield to 75-3 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Well-paced half-centuries from Mansfield skipper Mark Smallwood (50 off 52 balls) and Ranitha Liyanarachchi (52 off 40 balls) put the hosts on the front foot, adding 89 for the fourth wicket, before both fell in quick succession to Ryan and Scott Barnsdale, respectively.

Aaron returned to take two further wickets for excellent figures of 3-32, while Alex Dickinson removed Jacob Catling (27), but not before Mansfield had pushed on to post 237-8 from thor 50 overs.

Balderton lost Aaron early, but Fernando joined Ryan and built a 66-run second-wicket partnership before the latter fell for 21.

The Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman began to accelerate, hitting five sixes and six fours, bringing up his century off 90 balls.

But his dismissal three runs later sparked a collapse as Balderton slid from 166-3 to 180-7.

Joe Attewell did his bit with 34 off 48 balls as he shepherded the tail, but there was too much left to do.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills: 237-8.

Bowling: A. Charlesworth 10-1-32-3; S. Barnsdale 10-1-34-1; A. Dickinson 10-0-47-1; D. Pinfold 10-0-57-1; R. Charlesworth 10-1-61-2.

Balderton: R. Charlesworth 21, A. Charlesworth 1, S. Fernando 103, C. Neshaharan 12, J. Attewell 34, A. Morley 0, J. Gilbertson 7, D. Pinfold 0, S. Barnsdale 12*, A. Dickinson 0, M. Mullem 0*, Extras 26. Total: 216-9.