Tom Lungley see's leaders Clifton home with 57*

Welbeck’s recent slump in form continued on Saturday when they travelled to Wollaton and suffered a 16 run loss; the home side needed a positive result to stay clear of the drop zone but would have been fearful when they batted first and were bowled out for just 152 in 44.5 overs. Ian Dodd hit an unbeaten 49 and Welbeck’s Guy Darwin led the attack, taking 4 for 36. But Wollaton roared to a 20-point victory in just 37.2 overs when they skittled the visitors for 136 with Rhys Owen taking his season’s best figures of 5-49 with solid support from Ben Savage with 3-36. This result lifts Wollaton to eighth place but drops Welbeck to fourth, their lowest position so far this season.

Papplewick have also been struggling this term but achieved a stunning 15 run home win over Kimberley. The visitors won the toss and chose to field first and would have thought that the job was half done by tea when Papplewick were dismissed for 145 in just shy of 50 overs. Alex Lloyd has been in good nick all season and this continued when he grabbed 57. The Kimberley bowling attack was led by Akhil Patel (3-31) and Matt Wright (3-38) but when they replied they had not counted on a pair of bowlers who have been in impressive recently with Jim Rhodes taking 5-49 and Aaron Onyon 4-51. The fact that Kimberley’s highest score came from the 39 extras conceded summed up what a poor day it was for them. Papplewick remain in tenth but are now 37 points ahead of the relegation places.

Leaders Clifton continued their charge to a hat trick of titles by securing a 55 run victory over Belvoir at the Clifton Oval. On a day when high-scores were at a premium, Belvoir did well to limit the home club to 199 for 9 in 50 overs. They were staring down the barrel at 58-5 but Tom Lungley (57*) and Martin Weightman (37) staged a solid recovery with support from Dominic Harvey (31). Sam Cliff and Lee Fazackerley enhanced their growing reputations with 4-22 and 3-65 respectively. The target looked even more daunting when the visitors were dismissed for 144 inside 42 overs with only veteran Darren Bicknell showing any stickability, carrying his bat for 64. Clifton’s Adam Shepherd enjoyed his day, taking 4-30 and his side are 29 clear at the top.

West Indian Cavaliers are the second-placed team and they maintained the pressure on Clifton by handing out a 7 wicket thumping of Mansfield Hosiery Mills in a game at Birchover Park that lasted fewer than 60 overs in total. The Cavs won the toss and bowled first, dismissing the Millers for 120 in 36.3 overs; Saqlain Mushtaq continued his romp through the Premier League by taking 5-15 supported by Steve Atkinson with 3-22. Gareth Curtis was the only Mansfield player to get to grips with the opposition and the conditions, scoring 55. The home side strolled to their win in just 23 overs for the loss of 3 wickets with Usman Afzaal leading the way with and unbeaten 55.

Cuckney welcomed bottom-club Kiveton to Langwith Lane and finished the day with a winning draw; the home side took first dig and closed on 286 for 9 with Will Butler scoring 103 at almost a run a ball, with skipper Richard Stroh contributing 66 and Dave Hunt 35*. Kiveton skipper Lee Brooks continued his good form with the ball taking 5-77 from 13 overs and Luke Donaghy added 3-93. Kiveton did not look in with a chance with overhauling their target but neither looked like being beaten and they finished on 201 for 6. Adam Dutton (49) and Roger Spurr (32 not out) made significant contributions.

The final match took place at Lady Bay where the Nottinghamshire Academy had the better of a draw with Caythorpe. The county side batted first and posted 240 for 8 with runs for Michael Robson (72) and Olly Swann (71) and the visitors James Hawley returning 3-31. In their reply, Caythorpe slipped to 153 for 8 with eight overs remaining but managed to hang on and closed on 168 for 8, thanks mainly to 40 from Steve Allcoat.