Eckington 1st team started the year with a comprehensive 7 wicket win over Anston in the Bassetlaw League Division 2 game.. Eckington captain Tom Dawson won the toss and elected to bowl. The home side were in trouble from the start, they lost a wicket from the first ball of the game as Dawson had Anston’s opener LBW, then forth ball Anston’s number 3 was run out without scoring. Dawson took another wicket in his second over and when other opening bowler Simon West struck in his third over Anston were struggling on 13 for 4. Anston then staged a recovery as Norbury (85) and Ruch (58) put on a partnership of 115 runs, taking the score to 134 for 4. The introduction of spinners Wayne Dye and Eckington’s overseas player Ian O’Neill then turned the game back in the away sides favour. Wickets came in regular intervals as Dye finished on 3 for 67 and O’Neill on 3 for 25. Anston were bowled out in the 37th over for 204 leaving Eckington 55 over’s to reach their target. Dawson figures were 2 for 25 and West 1 for 36. Eckington’s reply got off to a good start as Rob Carlile (34) and O’Neill (31) put on 74 for the first wicket. Eckington then lost 3 quick wickets which left them on 79 for 3. But Eckington cruised to their target with no further loss of wickets as Julian Carlile (63) and Captain Dawson (63) won the game with 19 over’s to spare.
Eckington 167 for 9 lost to North Wheatley 171 for 8.
Eckington suffered a disappointing defeat in their Bassetlaw Division 2 game against North Wheatley. Batting first Eckington found runs hard to come by, they lost their first wicket, Eddie Allcock (5), with the score on 12 after 9 over’s. Ian O’Neill (46) and Julian Carlile (35) then put on a stand of 76 before both players were out with the score on 88 with 17 over’s to go. Eckington then lost wickets at regular intervals with only four other players reaching double figure’s, Karl Fields (24), Tom Dawson (11), Luke Dawson (13) and Simon West (12 no) as they finished with a disappointing score of 167. For the home side Blackwell took 3 for 20, Waller 1 for 42, Bovill 1 for 20 and the best figures were R Robinson who took 4 for 43. In reply the home side also struggled for runs. They had got off to a bad start losing their first two wickets for only 16 runs with Skipper Tom Dawson bowling Waller (4) and Coates (2). A stand of 64 between Blackwell (32) and Harrison brought the home side back into the game but two more quick wickets 1 each from O’Neill and Dave Barton then swung the game back in Eckington’s favour. The home side batted steadily after this and when Eckington took 2 more wickets Wilcox (9) bowled by Dawson and Harrison, who had batted well for his 73, unluckily run out backing up, the score had reached 133 and North Wheatley needed 35 off the last 4 over’s. The game then swung one final way as M Gregory came in a hit 24 from 13 balls, the scores were level as the last ball was bowled but 4 runs from the bat of Gregory won the game for the home side. Wicket takers for Eckington were Dawson 3 for 29, Barton 2 for 52 and Ian O’Neill 1 for 24.
Eckington 1st XI 303 for 3 beat Mansfield HM 2nd XI 145 all out.
Eckington returned to winning ways in their Bassetlaw Division 2 game v Mansfield Hosiery Mills. Eckington lost the toss and were invited to bat and opening batsmen Ian O’Neill and Karl Fields set about hammering the home side’s bowling attack all over the ground. Eckington reached 72 off the first 12 overs and when Fields (74) was out in the 42nd over the score had reached 246. Fellow opener O’Neill raced onto his highest score so far for Eckington of 184 not out off only 144 balls and helped by Luke Dawson (13), Eckington were 303 for 3 at the close of the innings. For Mansfield D Johnson took 2 for 66 and D Brittleback 1 for 68.
Mansfield’s reply didn’t get off to a good start, as for the second time this season Tom Dawson took a wicket with his first ball. Dawson followed that up with two more wickets in consecutive over’s which left the home side struggling on 7 for 3. Fellow opening bowler Simon West then took a wicket, Tom Dawson then took a forth and following the introduction of Luke Dawson, who took three quick wickets, Mansfield were left with little chance as they stood at 89 for 8 off 24 over’s. Some resistance was put up by R Ward (37) and M Rogers (23no) but Tom Dawson took the last two wickets and Mansfield were all out for 145. Tom Dawson had figures of 6 for 51, Luke Dawson 3 for 22 and West 1 for 27.
Eckington 1st 142 for 0 Drew with Edwinstowe 1st 269 for 5
The Bassetlaw League Division 2 top of the table clash between Eckington who are second and the leaders Edwinstowe ended in a draw after rain brought the game to a close early and both sides went away with 10 points. Eckington won the toss and put the visitors into bat on what was a wet wicket after earlier rain. This did not seem to effect the batsmen as J Peacock fired 34 off the first four over’s before he was caught going for another big hit from the bowling of captain Tom Dawson. Dean Elger carried on the good work for the visitors as he and Kamran Afzaal put together a big stand before Ian O’Neil took the wicket of Afzaal (57). O’Neil followed this up with another wicket next ball, Elger was out for 138 from the bowling of Wayne Dye and Edwinstowe reached 269 for 5 at the close. For Eckington Tom Dawson took 1 wicket, W Dye 1 and I O’Neil 2 with 1 man run out. Ian O’Neill and Karl Fields then carried on where they had left off last week, O’Neill scored 83 not out and Fields 56 not out as they chased the runs required. After two interruptions from rain the game was finally called off with 13 over’s to go and Eckington still needing 128 runs but with all 10 wickets still standing. An exciting finish was in prospect as Eckington looked to go top of the league but both sides had to settle for a draw.
Eckington 1st XI 75 for 1 beat Blidworth 1st XI 69 All Out.
Eckington went top of the Bassetlaw league division 2 as they hammered a sorry Blidworth team in less than 3 hours and only 43 over’s in the whole game. The match was short, sweet and extremely ruthless from a Blidworth point of view with the home side being completely wrecked and bowled out for just 69 by a rampant Eckington attack in which Simon West took 5 for 20 and South African Ian O’Neill bagged 3 for 14. The home side had reached 16 before West struck the first blow having Dove (2) caught behind. C Turton (12) and D Willcock (21) put up a little resistance but when West had Turton caught by a fine catch from Captain Tom Dawson and O’Neill bowled Willcock the score had reached 43 for 3, the home side then collapsed and lost their last seven wickets for just 26 runs with only Smith (10) making double figures. West took a further three wickets, O’Neill two and Wayne Dye took one wicket, with the other being a run out. At the end of the innings Blidworth had only used up 31 of their 46 over’s leaving Eckington 61 over’s to score the 70 required to win. This target proved only a token gesture as O’Neill showed what he could do with the bat as well blasting an unbeaten 47 not out off 45 balls and he was helped by Julian Carlile 14 not out off 11 balls as Eckington waltzed to victory in terrific style in only 12 over’s for the loss of just one wicket. Eckington CC would like to thank Derek Dooley for sponsoring the match ball.
Eckington 144 for 7 drew with Paplewick & Linby 222 for 6
Eckington dropped to third in the Bassetlaw League Division 2 after a disappointing losing draw against home side Papplewick. Batting first, Papplewick made the most of any luck that came their way reaching 222 for 6 which always looked a good score. Robin Rhodes (46), Jamie Peat (47), Matt Dear (36) and Paul Chapman who closed the innings with some massive blows before being out for 40 all looked in fine form with the bat. Luke Dawson was rather unlucky only to claim 2 for 33 and Ian O’Neill picked up a very useful 2 for 52 but Eckington rather let Papplewick get away from them towards the end of the innings. Other wicket takers were Tom Dawson 1 for 35 and Wayne Dye 1 for 55. When Ian O’Neill who has scored a mountain of runs for Eckington this season was out with the score on just 2, Eckington realised that whatever they had to do it was going to be extremely difficult. Steve Alford took 3 for 14 from 13 over’s in a superb spell and had it not been for a pugnacious innings by Chris Ludlam who made the highest score of the day 61, and young Andy Lee (34 no) it certainly seems that Eckington might have lost this one. Tom Dawson (19) was the only other batsmen in double figures and J Thrower took 2 for 33 and Rhodes 1 for 11 for the home side.
Eckington 1st XI 10 1 for 1 beat North Wheatley with Leverton 100 All Out.
Eckington 1st XI absolutely annihilated North Wheatley with Leverton in their Bassetlaw League Division 2 game which was all over before 5.30 p.m. Batting first North Wheatley got off to a poor start losing their first 2 batsman for just 18 runs with opening bowlers Tom Dawson and Luke Dawson claiming 1 wicket a piece. D Waller (27) and J Blackwell (26) then staged a recovery as they raced the score onto 69 off just 13 over’s. Once the Eckington skipper Tom Dawson decided on a double bowling change which introduced Simon West and Ian O’Neill into the attack, North Wheatley were totally dead and buried. They didn’t help themselves however with a series of woeful shots as they lost their last 8 wickets for 21 runs and were bowled out for just 100. Ian O’Neill bowled superbly again bowling 8 over’s, taking 4 wickets for just 12 runs, he was well supported by Simon West who took 4 wickets for 32 runs off 10 over’s. The only other Wheatley batsmen to reach double figures was J Waller (16). In reply Eckington, who had claimed 18 over’s from the first innings, had 64 over’s to secure victory. The home side used just 24 over’s as they eased to victory with the loss of just 1 wicket. Ian O’Neill, who had another excellent game, was unbeaten on 61 and Chris Ludlam also unbeaten on 17, J Bovill was the visitor’s wicket taker. Eckington CC would like to thank Terry Robinson for sponsoring the match ball.
Eckington 1st XI 64 for 2 beat Mansfield & Pleasley 63 All out by 8 wickets
After missing three consecutive Saturdays through the bad weather Eckington returned to playing cricket and continued where the left off by hammering Mansfield & Pleasley by eight wickets in the Bassetlaw Division 2 game. The match finished at 5:15 pm having used only 48 of the 92 over’s on offer. Eckington in the shape of Luke Dawson (3 for 18) and Simon West (4 for 15) simply ran through some feeble batting and Mansfield & Pleasley were all back inside for just 63 which was never going to trouble Eckington very much. Only one Mansfield player reached double figures, F Parker (13). Mansfield had reached 13 before Luke Dawson took the first wicket and after the introduction of Simon West to the attack Mansfield capitulated as West took the next 4 wickets to fall. Wayne Dye took a further 2 wickets for 2 runs and Dawson finsished off Mansfeild in under 29 overs with a further 2 wickets. The score didn’t trouble the Eckington Batsman as Ian O’Neil (22no), Julian Carlile 12 and Nick Dawson (16no) saw Eckington home and although they lost two wickets in reaching 64 their was never much doubt Eckington were going to secure the victory. Eckington now lie third in the table with one game in hand on the leaders.
Eckington 1st XI 147 all out lost to Kiveton Park 1st XI 181 for 7.
Eckington gave a good account of themselves as they played Bassetlaw Division 1 side Kiveton in the Tomlins trophy on Sunday. Batting first Kiveton were in trouble on 81 for 5 Tom Dawson took 2 early wickets, Luke Dawson 1 and Simon West 1. Wayne Dye was then introduced and he took the sixth wicket leaving the home side on 107 for 6. Fine knocks from R Spurr (45no) and J Cocks (35) added 74 before Cocks was out with two balls to go. Eckington wicket takers were T Dawson 2 for 33, L Dawson 3 for 40, S West 1 for 15 and W Daye 1 for 39. In reply Eckington lost wickets at regular intervals with S Nicholas (17), I O’Neill (24), T Dawson (37) and Karl Fields (31) the only batsman reaching double figures and were bowled out for 147 falling 34 runs short.
Eckington 1st XI 215 for 3 drew with Mansfield Hosiery Mills165 for 8.
Eckington gained 17 points from their drawn match with Mansfield in Bassetlaw League Division 1 thanks to another fine performance from all-rounder Ian O’Neil. Mansfield H.M must be sick of the sight of O’Neill as he followed up his 180 not out against them earlier in the season with a well made 87 not out on a damp wicket at Staveley lane. Eckington batting first reached 28 before the first wicket fell. This brought to the crease Chris Ludlam who along with O’Neill added 124 runs for the second wicket with Ludlam scoring 67. A quick 17 from Simon Emsen and an even quicker 21 not out from Captain Tom Dawson raced the score onto a very respectable 215. For the visitors D Johnson had figures of 2 for 41 off 13 overs.
In reply Mansfield were always behind the run rate as steady bowling from the Eckington attack kept runs to a minimum. The visitors had reached 40 before they lost their first wicket; the introduction of O’Neill produced a wicket with his second ball as M Rodgers was dismissed for 22. The mainstay of the Mansfield innings was a steady but well made 51 from 14 year old opener G Curtis and when he was caught and bowled by skipper Tom Dawson with 4 overs to go the game petered out into a drew. O’Neill had taken a further 3 wickets to finish with figures of 4 for 45, Tom Dawson finished on 1 for 20, Luke Dawson 1 for 33, Wayne Dye 1 for 25 and Simon Emsen 1 for 19. Eckington CC would like to thank Scarborough Property Development for sponsoring the match ball.