Nottinghamshire’s Academy were handed a narrow defeat by Cuckney in their second Notts Premier League fixture of the season, the hosts sealing a seven-run victory after posting 180 themselves.
After putting Cuckney in to bat, Simon Webster took two early wickets to reduce the visitors to 16-2. Daniel Wood and Nick Langford added 85 for the third wicket, before Adam Tillcock had Wood caught by his brother Luke on the boundary for 34, the visitors 101-3 in the 31st over.
Five overs later Langford followed, caught behind off Anuj Dal. From there, Sam Wood took control of proceedings. First he had Bramley caught by Luke Wood, then trapped captain Will Butler LBW to peg Cuckney back to 165-6. The visitors could only then add 15 more to their total in their allocated overs, losing Bostock and Geisler to two further Sam Wood deliveries. The innings closed on 180-8 from their allocated 50 overs, Sam Wood finishing with figures of 4-30 from his seven overs.
The Academy’s reply began with openers Hassan Azad and Anuj Dal quickly reaching 25 without loss, before Azad was caught at midwicket off Louis Bramley. Dan Freeman made 11 before being bowled by Driver in the 13th. Anuj Dal departed in the next over without adding to the total. At 50-3 Sam Wood and Adam Tillcock were tasked with recovery, but could only add 10 before Luke Thomas bowled the latter for eight.
Sam Wood and Simon Webster began a promising partnership before Wood was caught at mid-on off France in the 30th over, Notts 86-5. Webster continued alongside captain Paul Franks and the pair added 58 for the 6th wicket, before Franks was unfortunately run out by Nic Geisler off a straight drive from Webster.
Webster was bowled for 39 in the 44th, the score 154-7. Tom Keast and Luke Wood pushed the academy on, and by the 49th they required 9 off two overs.
Wood was then caught on the boundary, before Driver picked up the remaining two wickets quickly, the final score 173 all out, leaving Tom Keast unbeaten on five and Cuckney securing a seven-run victory.