Thoresby Colliery [16]           201-5

Edwinstowe [6]                       177-5

 

Heavy rain on Friday night and Saturday morning made it likely that our match would not be on.  However, due to the tireless efforts of the ground staff, play was able to begin on time with a more than respectable pitch.

 

It was the local derby.  Two village teams, side by side, doing battle in Division 1 of the Bassetlaw League.  Having been promoted, Edwinstowe were eager to impress.  While Thoresby were searching for the balance of determination, skill and intensity that would spark some early season form.  In the end it turned out to be a comfortable win(ning draw). Thoresby defended their total with pride and hunger, however it was the accumulation of their total that was the highlight of the match.

 

Martin Cheshire opened the batting.  He batted for 176 minutes and faced 168 balls.  He amassed 118 undefeated runs, which included 15 fours and 1 six.

 

Whilst watching this innings one sensed that this man had scored many hundreds before.  Cheshire has an ease at the crease.  He does not fidget or move about.  He remains patient and focussed and determined.  If he has nerves, then he hides them well, because the spectators and opposition can only see one man: a batsman who knows how to score. 

 

In CLR James’ timeless book – “Beyond a Boundary”, he goes to great lengths to insist that cricket is an art [ed’s comment – yes, I’ve seen plenty of artists playing the game at Thoresby].  He views batting, in particular, as the ideal of expression of self. Claiming that the manner in which a batsman scores his runs can reveal an enormous amount about the individual.  Having experienced the mastery of Cheshire’s display, I now feel as if I know him better.  Cheshire scored his runs methodically.  He batted within his limitations and he batted with purpose.  He knew that if he could remain as the anchor for Thoresby then it would set his team in good stead.

 

Early on the conditions were not easy.  The pitch was still a little damp and the ball was moving off the seam.  Chesh played and missed several times.  At one point Birkett was outscoring him however a slow bowler capable of moving the ball late bowled him for 13.  Chesh remained at the crease.  If he could stay there then he would reap the fruits of his hard work later on in the innings.  This reward was bountiful, it opened a floodgate of runs.

 

His scoring was not explosive, rather it was mercilessly consistent.  Each over he would hit a boundary, as well as a two and a couple of singles.  Edwinstowe had no reply.  They were almost resigned to the fact that they had to chase leather.  Their bowling did not penetrate.  It was as if they had to rely on the batsman to make a mistake.  Cheshire did not give a chance.  He continued to pounce on the short ball whilst also hitting the ball over the infield at will.  At times he almost looked bored after hitting a four.  After a cracking pull shot in front of square leg, he strolled down the wicket to pat down some turf and then made his way back to his crease.  He didn’t seem phased.  It was so blatantly obvious that he had done this all before.

 

Scott and Cheshire batted well.  They turned over the strike and kept picking off valuable runs.  Scott will benefit from his time in the middle.  One can sense that he is finding his way.  A big score may be near.  We will see.

 

And so to conclude the Thoresby innings Cheshire smashed the last ball over deep long off for six.  It was a beautiful stroke.  It made that sound of perfect timing.  After contact with the ball, he was balanced and the follow through of his bat gracefully rested upon his shoulder.  All at the ground watched and marvelled as the ball cleared the boundary.  It was a fitting end to a fine display.

 

In reply Edwinstowe offered little.  Upon reflection it would be fair to say that Thoresby bowled tighter lines.  The game becomes so much simpler when the bowlers can consistently bowl to one side of the wicket. Patel snared an lbw in his second over.  He continued to impress with the accuracy of his line and length.  He finished with 2/30 off 12. 

 

Evans was tidy however once more remained wicketless.  He too is close to a breakthrough.  In the coming weeks I suspect his time will come.  Scott bowled well initially but towards the end failed to land the ball.  Instead he offered several full tosses that were treated with due intention.  Willis bowled a tight spell that continued to build the pressure.  He claimed an lbw and finished with figures of 1/21 off 9.  His contribution was important to the end result.

 

In the dying overs Hughes and Hill combined to effect an entertaining run out.  Seeing the batsman struggling to make his ground, Hughes rocketed the ball into the bowler’s end.  Hill swiftly removed the bails and the batsman was out by some way.  This small piece of enthusiasm reflects the heightened intensity that could be felt for most of the time in the field.  Hopefully this will continue for many weeks to come.

 

And so the result favoured Thoresby and they will walk away knowing that this is only the start.  They still have to keep searching for that right balance if they are to ensure future success as well as enjoyment.  Cheshire’s innings was special.  Some spectators had watched their boy score like this before.  For others we were watching for the first time.  It was a delight to observe and learn how one of the game’s great sons approaches his time in the middle.  Much can be learnt from his performance.  Also, much can be enjoyed.

 

JC Hill

 

 

THORESBY COLLIERY

V

EDWINSTOWE

SAT

 

8TH MAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THORESBY COLLIERY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BATSMAN

 

HOW OUT

SCORE

 

BOWLING

O

M

R

W

M CHESHIRE

 

NOT OUT

118

 

GOMBOS

15

2

44

2

N BIRKETT

 

B RHODES

13

 

GARNHAM

6

2

21

0

P HUGHES

 

LBW B BULLIN

8

 

RHODES

12

0

39

1

P SCOTT

 

LBW B SMITH

25

 

BULLIN

10

3

33

1

S WILLIS

 

C BROWN B GOMBOS

11

 

T RICHIE

7

0

48

1

S PATEL

 

C GARNHAM B GOMBOS

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

J HILL

 

NOT OUT

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

S CHATTERTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C FLINTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D EVANS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B WOODS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTRAS

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

201

5

WKTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDWINSTOWE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BATSMAN

 

HOW OUT

SCORE

 

BOWLING

O

M

R

W

BROWN

 

RUN OUT

63

 

S PATEL

12

4

30

2

BENSON

 

LBW B PATEL

0

 

J HILL

11

1

38

1

HOOPER

 

LBW B WILLIS

19

 

D EVANS

9

1

31

0

SMITH

 

B PATEL

33

 

S WILLIS

9

4

21

1

GARNHAM

 

B HILL

24

 

P SCOTT

9

2

43

0

TEBBETT

 

NOT OUT

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOMBOS

 

NOT OUT

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

DUNN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JACKSON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RHODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BULLIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTRAS

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

177

5

WKTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Div 1 match played:

  • Bolsover 52ao lost to Worksop 53-0
  • All other matches rained off

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wthr

 

 

 

 

 

Division 1

 

 

 

Tie

Draw

 

 

Bonus

Pts.

Total

 

P

12

10

6

6

2

0

Bat

Bowl

Points

Mansfield Hos. Mills

5

2

2

0

1

0

0

10

13

73

Bridon

5

3

0

0

1

1

0

9

15

68

Notts & Arnold Am.

4

3

0

0

1

0

0

12

12

66

Cutthorpe

4

3

0

0

1

0

0

8

10

60

Kiveton Park

4

2

0

0

1

1

0

9

11

52

Worksop

4

2

0

0

1

0

1

9

12

51

Cuckney

5

1

1

0

1

0

2

8

11

47

Thoresby Colliery

5

0

2

0

0

0

3

11

11

42

Farnsfield

5

0

1

0

1

1

2

5

13

36

Glapwell

5

1

0

0

1

1

2

1

6

27

Edwinstowe

5

0

0

0

1

2

2

2

14

26

Blidworth

4

1

0

0

0

0

3

4

9

25

Bolsover

5

0

1

0

0

1

3

3

8

23