Collingham & District aiming to win the Nottinghamshire Premier League Division 2 title this weekend against Notts Unity Casuals

Collingham & District are one point away from winning the Nottinghamshire Premier League Division 2 title.

A three-wicket win at home to Gedling & Sherwood leaves Collingham eight points clear of second-placed Clipstone ahead of this weekend’s final matches.

Collingham make the trip to Notts Unity Casuals while Clipstone host third-placed Clifton Village.

Patience was key for Collingham against Gedling after a stubborn fourth-wicket partnership of 108 between Vansh Kumar (79) and Abneer Irfan (36) thwarted their progress.

The duo both fell in quick succession and Collingham were quickly able to work their way through the lower order.

From 177-4 in the 31st over, Gedling were all out for 216 after 38.1 overs.

The wickets were shared around with Liam Tew taking 2-39, Burhan Alam 2-45, Max Shenton returned 2-46 in six overs and Charlie Dixon finished with 2-11 from three overs.

Collingham’s reply was faltering at 64-4 when opener Ross Taylor departed for 20. Kimany Gregorie had already accounted for Chris Morris (13) and Ben Jones without score.

Skipper Alam made 41 from 50 balls and Ashton Fell hit 35 but they both fell in quick succession and Collingham had plenty of work to do at 146-7 in the 32nd over.

Dixon stepped forward, however, and smashed three sixes and nine fours in his 63 not out off just 40 balls. Along with Adam Mendham (17 not out), he put on an unbroken 75 for the eighth wicket as Collingham reached 221-7 after 41 overs to claim the win.

Collingham 2nds were lost by seven wickets to South Nottinghamshire League Division C leaders Notts Unity Casuals in their final league game.

David Pipes’ 74 was the mainstay of Collingham’s total of 168 all out in 40 overs, Samuel Derry providing good support with 26.

Zain Abbas (3-38) and Ozzy Qayyum (3-29) were the pick of the bowlers.

Collingham had early hope when Will Hillman removed Arslan Ali and Adnan Younis without score.

But opener Ravi Gouni steadied the ship with an unbeaten 77 and Abbas added 71 not out, the duo guiding their side to 169-3 in the 41st over.

Hillman finished with 2-41 in nine overs, Derry was the only other wicket taker as he returned 1-44.