GRASSMOOR CLINCH VICTORY IN EXCITING FINISH

GRASSMOOR WORKS 120 FOR 9 [39.1ovs]

BLIDWORTH COLLIERY WELFARE 117 ALL OUT [29.4ovs]

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT BARNES PARK

16 APRIL 2022 --- 1PM

ANDY WOOLVEN AND MAN OF THE MATCH IAN BRADLEY GRASSMOOR WORKS

A thrilling game of cricket entered the final over with Grassmoor needing two runs to win whereas Blidworth required just one wicket to seal victory on the opening day of The Bassetlaw and District League 2022 season with a four off the first ball of the last over the North Derbyshire side had secured the twenty points.  It was a game that was a credit to the league with Blidworth sensing victory when they took the home sides ninth wicket on 101 and their disappointment can only be eased by the entertainment of this encounter.

ATHELBERT BRATHWAITE BLIDWORTH OVERSEAS PLAYER

Football or cricket was the call today and it seemed a mightily early call for the red ball sport in mid April but with the Bassetlaw League starting a week before The Derbyshire County Cricket League and a beautiful sunny day being offered to all attendees it seemed rude not to make the thirty minute walk to the neighbouring village.  Grassmoor has been covered quite a few times in the last couple of seasons for both Saturday and Sunday fixtures so its not the time to go into the history again.  In cricket terms the club finished fourth last time out and found themselves with a promotion to division one the second tier of the Bassetlaw set up, a place they last grace in 2018.  For the visitors today Blidworth Colliery Welfare 2018 was the last time they competed in the elite championship level and last season in one they finished a fraction below mid table.  

DANIEL SUNG SETS OFF FOR THE RUN

The visitors would give a debut to their Barbadian overseas player Athelbert Brathwaite who spent last season in The Bradford League at Castleford based side Townville Cricket Club.

The bright sunshine had brought out a nice little crowd who would watch the whole proceedings and a constant scattering of limited time attendees who meandered through Barnes Park joined to, who by a quirk of Umpire appointments would see Richard Barnes on duty hope he felt at home.

It was nice to receive a warm welcome from the club and we were soon underway with the visitors off to a blistering start reaching 56 in a small number of overs before the first wicket fell.  The opening pairing of Brathwaite [35] and Daniel Sung [28] had started to hit big and Grassmoor were looking at a big total to chase.  But cricket is a game of surprises and when shortly later the Nottinghamshire side were 58 for 4 with Brathwaite bowled by Bradley being the prized wicket was in the bag.

BAILS OFF AS BRADLEY ADDS ANOTHER WICKET TO HIS TALLY

The loss of Sung [D] was a big blow for the visitors as he looked to be going along well but Daniel Spendlove took the catch off the bowling of John Donaldson.  A valuable innings from Andrew Watson [29] greatly added to the struggling total for the visitors but he fell to Luke James caught off his own bowling.  Blidworth would fall to 117 all out in the thirtieth over which would prove quite telling that had they been able to bat out their allotted forty overs just adding a few more runs may have proven to be to much for the home side.

GOOD SHOW TODAY FROM UMPIRES RICHARD BARNES AND STEPHEN LONG

For Grassmoor Bradley took 4 for 40 and Spendlove 2 for 21, certainly the former and fellow opening bowler Craig Dawes stuck to their task after the early onslaught.

The mini break for the blog came in the latter stages of the Blidworth innings when Mr M of the Wingerworth Parish had spotted a famous guest and its one that every time I go to Grassmoor my dad says 'you might see 'tat' Smith, great cricketer and snooker player'.  Well today I did after being advised Edwin Smith was here by Mr M I clarified that was 'Tats' first name and popped over to ask to take a photo which thankfully turned into an enthralling ten minute chat as we discussed briefly of course his past cricketing encounters and some current thoughts.  For you see Edwin, Grassmoor born and bred, played for Derbyshire Country Cricket Club from 1951 [county cap 1954] until 1971 playing 503 matches and taking 1217 wickets an achievement that has never been beaten and with the current flexibility of county players never will be for the county.  

EDWIN 'TAT' SMITH DERBYSHIRE LEGEND

He went on to be the county's coach for three more years before the clubs financial restraints lead to Tat not being re-employed in what must have been a hammer blow to a man who so clearly even now effuses Derbyshire cricket.  At 88 years young and sat near the park entrance he was fully aware of the state of play on day three of Derbyshire's current county match against Sussex at the county ground. There was time to briefly discuss his success at snooker too.   A steady stream of people had stopped to have a chat with Mr Smith and I had to wait my turn and a wholly worthwhile wait it was too lovely to meet him.

ANDY WOOLVEN TURNS ONE OF HIS LEGS FOR GRASSMOOR WORKS

Nostalgia trip over but with the warm 'ready brek' feeling to the fore it was time to get on with the home sides reply.  Big hitting opener Andy Woolven [13] launched a few but fell early, Luke James [16] held up some resistance.  Grassmoor reached 70 for 3 and looked well on their way to achieving the target but then the doubts came into play when two wickets fell without the score moving along, John Donaldson [15] and Mark Cain without troubling the scorers.  

Brathwaite returned to the attack and dismissed Spendlove [27] with his first ball and when Dale James [1] also fell caught by Gareth Ellis off the bowling of Joshua Green two wickets had again fallen without the score moving along this time at eighty nine.

BRATHWAITE NOW A DANGER WITH THE BALL

The eight wicket would fall with just one more run added and by the time the ninth was registered with score on 101 Grassmoor looked like they were staring at defeat.  But the final paring of Dawes [11] and Bradley [8] saw off Brathwaite's overs and they gradually chipped away at the total while protecting that last wicket that Blidworth desired.

With the final over as simple as two runs to win for the home side and for Blidworth they still required that one wicket nobody had left and things could not have been more tense for the opening day of the season.  There was not a long wait as when Watson sent down the first ball Bradley positioned himself and launched the ball back over the bowlers head which saw it roll over the boundary despite a despairing dive by the fielder to seal a remarkable victory.

For the visitors Brathwaite added to his danger with the bat by taking 3 for 15 with the ball and Dallman 3 for 23.

LUKE JAMES OPENING FOR GRASSMOOR WORKS

Close encounters like this one probably occur once in a season and this first game had served one up in a gem of a encounter that does make you wonder can this be bettered on any of the blogs travels this season.  As for Grassmoor it was a fantastic way to start newly promoted life in division one but lets not forget Blidworth who more than contributed to a wonderful afternoon were cricket and The Bassetlaw and District Cricket League were the winners too.

LIGHT STARTING TO FADE AS THE TENSION MOUNTS