Cup round-up for 29 May

Last Sunday, there were eight games in the second round of the Mick Savage Trophy, with three wins by Division 2 sides over Division 1 opposition. 

 

The top score of the day was recorded at Stonelow, where Division 2 visitors Norton Woodseats racked up 298-6 in their 40 overs against their Division 1 opponents after electing to bat first. After half centuries from Michael Donson and Elliot Metcalfe set them on their way, Aamir Ashfaque hit an unbeaten 81 off 45 balls to set the home side a near-unassailable target. Despite opener Benjamin Hall’s half century, Coal Aston were never in the hunt, Abdullah Asad and Ashfaque taking three wickets each as the home side fell 145 runs short. 

 

Another big win came at Washfield Lane, where Treeton 2nds chose to bat first and posted an imposing 260-6 against Hatfield Town. The damage was done at the top of the home side’s order, with Matt Lambert, Tom Holland and Edward Brunton all passing the half-century mark. Connah Pattison, with 4-46, was the most successful Hatfield bowler. In reply, Hatfield never recovered from being 11-3, and only an unbeaten 46 from Jake Van Oorschot took them to 152. Jon Boden took three of the first Hatfield wickets to set Treeton on their way to a 108-run win over fellow Division 2 opposition. 

 

In an all-Division 1 clash at the Old Mill Ground, three wickets each from Philip Howell and Bailey Hopkins helped bowl Whitley Hall 2nds out for 93 after they had chosen to bat first. South Kirkby had no trouble in knocking off the required runs for the loss of one wicket in quick time, Steve Secker leading the way with an unbeaten 51. 

 

Two Division 2 sides met at Green Lane, where Aston Hall 2nds restricted Monk Bretton to 119-8 after asking them to bat first. Only Jordan Clayton, with 37 in 40 balls at No 7, got to grips with the home attack, in which Yousaf Ali took 3-19 in eight overs. Sohail Mohammed (67) and Mainak Ray (44 not out) then took Aston Hall to within three runs of victory, which was achieved by nine wickets in the 17th over. 

 

Another straightforward win was recorded by Division 1 side Upper Haugh, who beat Hallam 2nds of Division 2 by eight wickets, with nearly half the overs to spare. Samuel Thompson set the visitors on their way with three early wickets, only Ryan Hartley (36) showing any sustained resistance for Hallam, who were all out for 121, having decided to bat first. Naveed Shah (34 in 21 balls) and Dean Smith with an unbeaten 51 in 54, then made short work of the 122 target. 

 

The closest game of the day came in an all-Division 1 affair at Town Fields, where Sheffield Collegiate 3rds made 161-8 after being put in to bat. Young all-rounder Tate Miller followed up his fine bowling performance the day before, with a patient 60 to anchor the innings, but did not receive much support against the Doncaster Town 3rds attack, in which Bradley Heaps took 3-30 in eight overs. The home side did not find run-scoring much easier, and lost half their side for 67, four of the wickets falling to Mansoor Shinwari. Ben Stoves (54 in 60 balls) then took Doncaster to within 32 of victory with five wickets left, before becoming one of Miller’s three victims. it was left to skipper Warren Graca to steer his side home with two wickets and ten balls to spare. 

 

436 runs were scored at Penistone, where the Division 2 side overcame Division 1 Wakefield Thornes 2nds by 26 runs after electing to bat first. Christopher Walmsley was the match-winner for Penistone with an unbeaten 110 off 102 balls, to take his side to 231-5; whilst James Donnachie took 3-28 in eight overs for Thornes. In reply, the visitors were 57-4, before James Cuthbertson joined Adrian Thomson (36) and the pair put on 110 for the fifth wicket to bring their side right back into the game. But after Cuthbertson was sixth out at 187 for a whirlwind 111 off 47 balls (eight fours and eleven sixes) the visitors challenge subsided to 205 all out. Opening bowlers Jack Meek (2-23) and William Tyas (3-36) both bowled fine seven-over spells for the victors. 

 

Finally, a low-scoring game at Bawtry Road saw Division 2 Ackworth record a 32-run win over Sheffield United of Division 1. Having decided to bat first, the visitors were indebted to John Wood (80 off 77 balls) for their all out 170, whilst Dinura Gunwardena took 5-35 in his eight overs. Gunwardena was also top-scorer for United with 37, but only Luqman Asad also passed 30, as Luke Townsend and Bailey Matthews each took three wickets, as a good all-round bowling performance by Ackworth restricted United to 138 all out. 

 

The quarter-finals, to be played on Sunday 19 June, are: 

 

Norton Woodseats v Penistone 

South Kirkby v Aston Hall 

Treeton 2nds v Ackworth 

Upper Haugh v Doncaster Town 2nds