Kiveton Park’s inconsistent season goes on

Renowned as a good batting track, with a fast outfield, Kiveton’s stand-in captain Matt Hall had no hesitation in batting first on a very hot day.

With usual captain and opening batsman, Adam Whiteley, absent due to getting married Kiveton opened with Richard Grainger (41) and Ashley Arnold (21).

Thoresby’s South African paceman Arno De Beer (2 for 42) bowled with pace and accuracy but the Kiveton openers stood firm until Arnold was dismissed by De Beer after a promising innings in a stand just short of 50.

Cartwright (26) joined Grainger and they maintained the run rate with some crisp shots and excellent running between the wickets.

Grainger was eventually dismissed by Nayeem Ahmed (2 for 40) and when Cartwright followed soon after to the same bowler Thoresby had wrestled the initiative back.

Kiveton suffered further set backs when Matt Hall (15) and John Plant (21) perished when trying to regain the initiative for the visitors.

However this brought to the crease the experienced duo of Richard Spurr (47) and Rob Coxon (32) who produced a run-a-ball partnership which gave Kiveton the opportunity to post a competitive score.

However, the final total of 236 for 9 still looked short on such a good wicket.

The tea interval brought with it a heavy thunderstorm which briefly delayed a resumption but when play did finally start it was Kiveton who were fastest out of the blocks with Plant (2 for 51) producing a fantastic opening burst, dismissing Cheshire and Willis, leaving Thoresby in trouble on 5 for 2.

This was as good as it got for Kiveton though.

Once Farouk Aziz (112*) and captain Nayeem Ahmed (104) weathered Plant’s opening aggressive burst they produced a fantastic partnership of over 200 to steer the home side to victory with ease.

Despite Ahmed being dismissed just after reaching his hundred Kiveton were unable to make any further inroads as Thoresby won by seven wickets with seven overs to spare.

Kiveton welcome Cuckney to Stone Close on Saturday with victory, now, a priority.