KIVETON PROVIDE TOUGH TEST FOR GRASSMOOR

GRASSMOOR WORKS 167 FOR 6 KIVETON PARK COLLIERY 168 FOR 7

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT DIVISION ONE AT BARNES PARK

18 JUNE 2022 --- 1PM

SCOREBOARD MOVING AROUND FOR GRASSMOOR V KIVETON PARK

Probably the toughest home test of the season for Grassmoor saw them about thirty runs shy of a winning target even with captain Adam Bedford [59] and John Donaldson [30] providing vital impetus they were though surpassed today by Ian Briggs [63] and 3 for 33 in a match winning performance for Kiveton Park Colliery.

LUKE JAMES WITH AN ADMIRING GLANCE FROM WORKS PLAYERS

There hasn't not been a Saturday lost to the weather in a season since I have started blogging cricket and although its only mid June its been going well to break that record, until that was this weekends forecast.  Prediction all week of downpours and thunder made today look a non starter but thankfully early afternoon looked less likely to see any wet stuff come Saturday.  Grassmoor had nicely suggested on their Facebook page that you should still come along after all you could watch the world go by from the comfort of the pavilion, sometimes there is nothing better in cricket than the clubhouse and social side.

ECONOMICAL BOWLING FROM JACK ROPER FOR KIVETON

A steady and cautious start from Luke James [20] and Mark Crain [13] but it was hard going with some superbly economical bowling from the visitors opening bowlers Brandon Dawson 1 for 16 and Jack Roper although wicket less also went for just 19 in his likewise 8 overs.  The arrival of Bedford and Donaldson pushed the score along with their attacking style and a quick fire score from Any Woolven [11] including one massive maximum out of Barnes Park set up a defendable total.  It could have been much lower by the half way stage Grassmoor were only fractionally above two an over.  

The visitors bowling had seen Briggs concede 33 runs but the three wickets were in the bag with one apiece for Mark Firth, Alex Gilbert and Dawson.

FELLOW KIVETON OPENING BOWLER BRANDON DAWSON ALSO ECONOMICAL

Like a creature of habit a quick amble to the country park and back took out the tea interval as the first of the rain started intermittently coming down and it would blight much of the Kiveton reply including the last few overs were it remained quite dark and got much sharper with the horizontal stuff.

LUKE JAMES OPENS FOR GRASSMOOR

Taking cover under the trees on the road side of the park didn't help with the photograph as the light started to dim but a cautious start from Kiveton soon took on a more confident look.  Openers keeper Alfie Mills [15] and captain Alex Gilbert [7] went cheaply they lost Harry White [4] but Jack Fleetwood [26] and John Leaver [25*] all added vital runs with Briggs as the home total came ever nearer.  Two late wickets with the score one run short and level took the home sides wicket take to seven and made the score line look a little closer, although there was also just short of seven overs to spare.

Jon Kenward Nash, Ian Bradley and Donaldson all returned two wickets with Jamie Hawkins the other finally dismissing man of the match Briggs to a sharp catch by Bradley in the slips.

HOME CAPTAIN ADAM BEDFORD TOP SCORES WITH 59

Disappointing to see my first Grassmoor home loss of the season but clearly no disgrace against what has been the strongest sign with pedigree to grace Barnes Park so far.  A close to the afternoon that was spoiled from a watching point of view by the closing in weather but it was as ever great to get a game in when on Friday it looked like a day in with TV horse racing.

A CLASSY SHOT FROM ANDY WOOLVEN FOR GRASSMOOR

Thankfully it wasn't too far back to base but even with the umbrella it was a pretty wet lower half that arrived back about twenty five minutes later.  Lesson is don't always plan around the forecast and even when it did turn inclement well done to both of these sides and the umpires for getting on with the game.

IAN BRIGGS 63 AND 3 FOR 33 MAN OF THE MATCH

With pre season football having already started in Wales for their European fixtures its also surprising that locally the first reachable fixtures are available in two weeks time to that end an additional cricket fixture for tomorrow, Sunday, has been pencilled in and hopefully a small blog produced in the next few days if you fancy a look.

JOHN LEAVER A DETERMINED 25 FOR KIVETON