An excellent second-innings performance saw Nottinghamshire’s Academy seal a convincing seven-wicket victory over Kimberley in the Notts Premier League.
After losing the toss to the visitors, the academy bowlers got off to a flyer, Ben Kitt trapping Sam Ogrizovic with the match’s first delivery. He struck again in the 11th over, finding Tom Rowe’s edge to leave Kimberly 31-2.
Dominic Brown joined opener Sam Johnson, and the pair took Kimberley past 100, before Adam Tillcock bowled Brown to break a stand worth 70.
Hassan Azad ran out new man Alex Aldred for seven, before Elliot Bowles finally accounted for Johnson, bowling him for 62.
George Bacon and Dominic Wheatley came together with the score 121-5 but the former Notts Academy man could only make nine before being caught at slip to give Bowles his second.
Alex King joined Wheatley, and the pair added 39 before a returning Ben Kitt saw King on his way in the 46th over, Kimberley 171-7.
The visitors reached the close with no further loss, Wheatley ending unbeaten on 29 and his side 195-7 from their 50 overs.
The Academy reply was dealt a similar immediate setback, Hassan Azad nicking behind off George Bacon’s second delivery. Jake Libby, entering at three, saw his partner become Bacon’s second victim, Tom New presenting a catch to Tom Rowe at square leg, making the score 15-2 in the fifth over.
Libby and Anuj Dal first consolidated, then progressed. By drinks in the 25th, the Academy had reached 107-2, Dal quickly reaching 46* alongside Libby (43*).
Both players reached 50 shortly afterwards, then amassed more runs to reach a partnership worth 150 in the 36th over. At this stage the Academy were 165-2, the Kimberley total in sight.
Dal was the only other batsman to fall, chasing a ball down the leg side handily caught by keeper Harry Ratcliffe. He departed for 75, before Libby and Adam Tillcock saw the Academy past the target in the 40th over, sealing a seven-wicket victory. Libby ended the match unbeaten on 86, the final score 197-3.