An impressive, thirteen centuries, and numerous half centuries, were registered over the weekend in Owzat-Cricket Nottinghamshire Premier League, and this is just the dozen matches played; one even came agonisingly close to making a double century – you can’t get much closer really.

That attempt at a double century fell to Wollaton CC’s Nicky Kirkwood as they fell to an eight wicket defeat against defending champions, Kimberley CC, for whom Sam Wood also registered a three-figure total.

Kimberley, who, following victory sit in fourth place and hold a twelve point advantage on the nearest side beneath them in the Premier Division table (Hucknall and Plumtree are joint), enjoyed their weekend with wins on both Saturday, and Sunday.

On the Saturday, at home to Wollaton, the visitors would post a reasonable, 296/5, in their fifty overs, it could have been more but for a last gasp catch from Jack Nightingale, Nicky Kirkwood, chasing a magical double century, fell short when going for the boundary with the last ball of the innings, falling after an innings of 195.

Replying, the hosts were given a revised target of 259, from forty overs, reaching that in 32.2 to post 263/2, Sam Wood hitting 121 before being caught by Hamish Llewelyn whilst Patrick Delahunty chipped in with 63 runs himself.

The following day Kimberley saw off Hucknall CC by 95 runs, without quite as much drama as the previous day – the visitors put Kimberley into bat, dismissing them for 249 in just under the allotted fifty, Wood adding another 58 runs to his seasons tally, and Dominic Whatley with a straight, half century, Jake Wright taking 3-50.

In reply, Hucknall found themselves being skittled for 154, inside 38 overs, Matthew Roberts’ 48, and an unbeaten knock from Sam Johnson, 44 n/o, certainly in vain as three batsmen went for nought, Wood taking 3-21, and James Hindson 3-26, to keep them on the coattails of the leaders.

Two centuries were registered in the game between Cavaliers & Carrington CC, and Papplewick & Linby CC, the former edging back in front at the top of table with an 18-run victory; Cavs batting first and posting 253/6 in their fifty overs, Imran Butt with 118 n/o the main feature, whilst an unbeaten 108 n/o from Ben Trevor-Jones proved insufficient in reply, the visitors coming up short at 235/9 – Farhan Ahmed’s 3-32, and Rehan Ahmed’s 3-52, keeping the visitors attack at arms’ length.

Cuckney CC slipped up again, they dropping to a narrow, six run loss when home to Radcliffe-on-Trent CC, a game which saw three centurions take a slice of the action; the hosts, batting first, posted 299/2 in their fifty overs as Rob Sutton 144 n/o was joined by James Hawley 77, and an unbeaten 54 n/o by William Masojada.

Replying, Cuckney would fall short when making 293/6, but not for the lack of trying, centuries from Nick Langford 111 n/o, and Andrew Hazeldine 114 insufficient as others collapsed around them, Ben Savage helping himself to 4-54.

Elsewhere, Plumtree CC won by seven wickets at home to Notts & Arnold CC, bowling their visitors for 204 and reaching the target with the loss of just three in reply, 209/3; Dilhan Cooray knocked 74 for Notts as Zak Bess’ 65 n/o, and 51 apiece from both Saad Ashraf, and Seb Menzhausen, pushed victory through.

Another century was registered in the game between Attenborough CC and hosts Gedling & Southbank CC, the former winning by 112 runs after they hit 278/4 in their innings, Savin Perera with 124 and Daniel Freeman 55 ahead of bowling their hosts for just 166 as Jonny Lawrence hit 57; of the Atteborough bowling however, Freeman took 3-18, and Perera 3-29 in a devastating attack.

Hucknall meanwhile, although they lost on Sunday to Kimberley, picked up a win on the Saturday when home to Clifton Village CC, edging home by 12 runs; Nolan Benson hit 78 for the hosts as they posted 270/8, and Don Butchart top-scored with 65 in reply, the visitors falling to 258 all out.

Division Two is as equally spaced at the top as the Premier Division, and there was also a handful of centuries here as well, including that of Tade Carmichael, in Welbeck CC’s loss, by 11 runs, at home to Caythorpe CC – three batsmen there posting more than a hundred.

The visitors batted first, racking up 283/6, both their opening batsmen scoring big as Fynn Purnell hit 104, and Adeesha Nanayakkara 106, Joe Tadpatricker the pick of the Welbeck bowlers with 3-54, whilst in reply, Carmichael’s 114 was Welbeck’s best offering as Mark Footitt, Alex Macdonald, and Abneer Irfan, took doubles.

Leaders West Bridgfordians kept their noses in front at the top of the table with an eight wicket win away to Balderton CC, Travis Holland 102 n/o and Alastair Pettit 54 in fine form for the victors; second placed Cavs 2nds won by five wickets away to Cuckney 2nds, in a low-scoring encounter, whilst Mansfield Hosiery Mills CC went big at home to Collingham & District CC, winning by 189 runs.

Collingham put their hosts into bat first, and were impressively stung as the side in third racked up a total of 332/9 in their fifty overs, Charana Nanayakkara hit 85 (from 56), Kamal Manek 75, and Mark Smallwood 70, Max Shenton the pick of the bowlers with 5-51; replying though, Collingham were bowled for just 143, in 31.2 overs as Liam Tew’s 47 being one of just four batsmen to make double figures, Dan Harris taking 3-29.

The other game saw Clipstone CC defeat visiting Thoresby CC by 99 runs, Adam Dutton posting an unbeaten 107 n/o for the victors, Ximus Du Plooy, with 66, scant reward in reply.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NottsPrem Attenborough’s Savin Perera had a great weekend with bat and ball.