Worksop beaten by Cavaliers stars

Worksop 99 all out

WORKSOP travelled to arguably one of the strongest club sides in the country on Saturday, their hosts boasting a handful of international and county stars.

Luke Ambrose won the toss and elected to ask the home side to bat.

The Cavalliers got off to a steady start, until Conor Smith made the breakthrough, having Steve Atkinson (17) caught at slip by Kelbert Walters with the score on 37.

Usman Afzal (7) joined Aaron Thomas at the crease, the former driving Walters on the up to be caught by Ambrose at cover.

Smith dismissed Michael Millwood (5) caught and bowled with the scoreboard now showing 61-3, but the strength and depth of the Cavalliers batting line up shone through.

Opener Aaron Thomas batted all the way through the innings to reach 102 and he was assisted by Rawait Khan (76) and Bilal Shafayat (39*) to amass 293 for 5.

Walters and Smith were the pick of the Worksop attack with 3 for 77 and 2 for 90 respectively.

Worksop’s innings did not get off to the best of starts, with Lee Morris and Gareth Purshouse bowled by Farhan Shaukat (3 for 48).

Wayne Spooner (27) helped to start and turn the score around, including pulling Alex Tudor for six, but was caught at mid-off by Afzal off the bowling of Tudor, with the score at 37 for 3.

Walters (17) and Glenn Pym (28*) were the only other contributors as ex-international test player Saqlain Mushtaq (3 for 10) ripped through the middle order, leaving Worksop 99 all out.

This weekend will be vitally important for Worksop as they face last year’s Notts Premiership winners, Clifton Village and Welbeck Colliery.