The Bank Holiday Monday fixture against Thoresby Colliery pitted two unbeaten sides against each other and after what must be described as a slightly wobbly batting display, Retford came back strongly to capture maximum points with a rather easy 71 run win.

Batting first the usually reliable Retford run machine was held in check as they were dismissed for just 178 with skipper Steve Musgrove playing a real captain’s innings as he made 75. Without this effort, Retford would have been in serious trouble with David Evans (3 for 45) and Ben Winslade (3 for 26) both bowling splendidly.

As it was this total was easily enough as Steve Randall (5 for 35) and Paul Singleton ripped through some rather tepid Thoresby resistance to bowl them out for just 107. Only Paul Hughes (32) saved the innings from becoming a complete disaster, but Retford do look a force to be reckoned with and a lot of good cricket is in store between now and the end of the season.

Spare a thought for Bolsover’s Tariq Rashid who notched his third century in six matches this season when he scored 104 against Arnold at the King George V Playing Field. The only drawback is that Bolsover have yet to win a match and remain anchored to the foot of the table and have a lot of hard work to do to save their season.

Batting first the home side Arnold clocked up a useful looking score of 212 for 8 with Russell Bostock (59) and Australian Justin Foss (37) leading the charge. Steve Wooley with 3 for 42, bowled well for Bolsover but one had the feeling at half way that it would take a super human effort by the visitors to gain much from this match.

As it happened it nearly did occur with Rashid making a magnificent 104 runs but the support was badly lacking as the other ten players contributed only 59 runs between them as they were bowled out for just 163. Justin Foss who enjoyed a brilliant all round match captured 4 for 15 whilst veteran Rick Peacock helped himself to 4 for 76 as Arnold strolled to a comfortable 49 run win.

Cuckney who started the season with high hopes recorded their first victory of the season against the irritatingly inconsistent Killamarsh side. Batting first Cuckney reached 226 for 7 with Aaron Thomas and Bavesh Patel scoring 34 each to add great support to a superb 76 from Australian Greg Hunt. For Killamarsh Peter Allen bowled superbly to take 6 for 45 in a great individual effort.

This total proved more than adequate as Killamarsh were bundled out for 165 to give Cuckney victory by 61 runs. Mark Bull played a real skipper’s innings for Killamarsh but it was not enough as B Patel (3 for 48) did the damage to send his side home victorious.

A proverbial run feast took place at Eckington in Division 2 with 534 runs being scored between the home side and Anston with only eleven wickets falling! Batting first Anston made an astonishing 270 for 3 with Mike Norbury who made a sensational 137 and Dean Brearley (93) leading the way with a partnership of 230.

At one stage however even this great effort looked as though it might not be enough as Mark Bridgman (92) and Terrence Pearson (54) put on 161 in a brilliant opening stand and in good time to boot. Skipper Simon Emson kept the momentum going with an aggressive 36, but Eckington fell just six runs short at 264 for 8.

The draw was a fitting end to a great match and it would have been a tragedy had one of these wonderful sides tasted defeat after such a marvelous effort. Ian Barley (3 for 56) and Akilesh Rana (4 for 85) bowled superbly but everyone connected with this match was a winner and the whole proceedings were a credit to Bassetlaw League cricket.

Marshalls are another side who are making their presence felt this season and they added seventeen more points to their tally for a winning draw at Ashover. Batting first Paul Van den Heuvel made a superb 82 out of an innings total of 188 for 8 whilst Roger Bolstridge (3 for 51) and Andy Lunn (3 for 42) both bowled excellently for Ashover.

In reply Ashover had much to thank Russell Cooke (45) and Roger Bolstridge (33 n.o.) for as their side dipped to 118 for 7 and were saved from almost certain defeat by this pair. Andrew West was the wrecker in chief taking 5 for 42 in a brilliant sustained spell of medium paced bowling.