GRASSMOOR SEE VICTORY SLIP THROUGH THEIR FINGERS

GRASSMOOR WORKS 162 ALL OUT THORESBY COLLIERY 2'S 174 FOR 8

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT DIVISION 2 AT BARNES PARK

14 AUGUST 2021 --- 1PM

SHAILESH PATEL MAN OF THE MATCH FOR THORESBY COLLIERY V GRASSMOOR

Grassmoor looking to consolidate on second spot in division two somehow managed to lose from a strong position twice against Thoresby Colliery.  Having reduced the Nottinghamshire visitors to 59 for 6 an achievable target looked ont the cards but that was to forget the contribution of man of the match Shailesh Patel [74*] who steered the total to 174 for 8.  Even after three early losses in reply the home side rallied thanks to David Spendlove [83] with a wonderful innings but he couldn't hang around with the target at only just above four an over and when the bowling figures were viewed Thoresby again had to look towards Patel who took 3 for 25 as Grassmoor fell a dozen runs short.

STEAMING IN FROM THE BIRKIN LANE END

Local was again the order of the day with the threat of rain late afternoon and other difficulties guiding me thankfully to a second Grassmoor Works game in close succession, so much so that I wont revisit the local history etc.  Needless to say the afternoon remained as non serene as last time with the beautiful game punctuated with motorbikes fit to break the sound barrier, noisy traffic on the adjacent road and then just as this settled down a neighbour decided to power wash his patio with the loudest machinery for an hour or so.

NIGEL BIRKETT SOLID OPENING FOR THORESBY

Still we were viewing some live sport and there was an anticipation to see if last time outs big hitting could be repeated but we would have to wait as the visitors would bat first and a solid start was made before the first wicket fell at 40 in the last ball of the tenth over, Shaun Caldwell [15] bowled by Ian Bradley.  There was a quick return to the new functional pavilion after a duck for Jack Waring  before captain Alistar Walker [14] stabilised the ship.  Opening batsman Nigel Birkett [27] was bowled by John Donaldson after a contribution that had helped set a sturdy base for Thoresby.

JOHN DONALDSON RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS FOURTH WICKET

From the Birkin Lane end Donaldson was proving the threat he dismissed Chris Spittlehouse [1] and James Collins no score before bowling Walker to haul four wickets in and the visitors who were still in the fifties with just four wickets left.  The lower order saw Nathan Culkin [12] chip in before John Kenward-Nash dislodged his bails and Greg Cheshire [5] was stumped by Sam Smith off Craig Dawes.  The bulk of the total would be contributed by Patel who grew in confidence and shot ability as Grassmoor scratched their heads their confidence visibly started to melt away and with Ian Halfpenny [23] contributing that expected total of around 100 had gone nearer to the two hundred.

JOHN KENWARD-NASH WATCHED OVER BY THE GIRAFFE

A challenging total which at one stage was looking like a fairly easy meander and would require the powerful top order to get away and get away well.  Rounding up the bowling Donaldson was on fire for his eight over spell and it was just a shame he couldn't claim five despite his best efforts.  There was 2 for Kenward-Nash and one apiece for Bradley and Dawes.

THE CROOKED SPIRE AT NEARBY CHESTERFIELD WATCHES ON AS GRASSMOOR REPLY

A tea interval wander around a nearby estate took away enough time to just arrive back at the perimeter to see the home sides reply commence.  It was not the start they wanted as they soon fell away to 27 for 3 with Donaldson [11], Andy Woolven [6] and captain Adam Bedford [2] back in the pavilion.  This disappointing start brought together Spendlove and Carl Bowling [18] who steadied the ship and as their confidence grew and the saw off the early threat from the Thoresby attack started to play some shots that would bring the target back within range.  Sadly Bowling was not to hang around to allow Spendlove to attack he was bowled by Christopher Mitchell but the total had moved onto 88 by then.  

TOP MATCH SCORE 73 FOR DARREN SPENDLOVE OF GRASSMOOR WORK CC 

Wickets would fall steadily with Dawes [4 ], Bradley [1 ] and Smith [3] back at base the total had reached 139 thanks in the main to Spendlove.  As confidence grew further in the home number four he was hitting out well and with the target around four and a half an over a win was looking on the cards while he remained but with the score on 149 and achievable with some controlled pushing and running one big hit too many arrived.  Spendlove would fly into Patel only to launch the ball space bound and as we waited for it to fall there would be no mistake by the bowler as he capped his man of the match performance by dismissing the danger man with a comfortable catch.

CARL BOWLING GRASSMOOR WORKS CC

A valiant effort was made to get over the line Pete Bedford [4] out bowled by Cheshire to the big swing needed at the time and finally Kenward-Nash suffered the same result to the bowling of Mitchell with four balls remaining.  It was probably about the right result but it always feels better when the chasing side gets to the total but the contribution of Birkett and ultimately Patel for Thoresby was not to be denied, it was though a game that swing first one way then the other and then did exactly the same an hour later when Grassmoor replied.

SHAILESH PATEL THREE WICKETS AND 74 WITH THE BAT