PAPPLEWICK stepped up their Notts Premier League title challenge while at the same time dealing a crushing blow to Caythorpe's hopes.

The hosts swept to a convincing 59-run win as the Caythorpe batting line-up collapsed in spectacular fashion and from being strong favourites to win the championship only a couple of weeks ago, the visitors now look to have blown it.

In a low-scoring game, Papplewick posted 157 in their 50 overs but Caythorpe could only manage 98, with eight of their allocation of overs unused.

After hitting the top of the table for the first time last week, defending champions West Indian Cavaliers showed they are in no mood to give up their crown without a fight. They swept to an easy eight-wicket win over Mansfield Hosiery Mills as the visitors could manage only 82, with Anderson, Asghar and Phillips all taking three wickets apiece. Cavs raced past that total in the 16th over as the game finished shortly after 4pm.

Kimberley kept up the chase in second place with an equally emphatic 154-run win at Plumtree.

Langford top-scored for Kimberley with 81, while Shaw chipped in with a half century as they declared on 255-7. Wright then took over with the ball, claiming six wickets as Plumtree folded to 101 all out off 28.4 overs.

Killamarsh grabbed themselves a relegation lifeline with a 43-run win at home to Welbeck. Ludlam made an unbeaten 50 in the hosts' 217-6 and then chipped in with four wickets as Welbeck were bowled out for 174, only Fletcher offering much in the way of resistance.

Clifton came out on top in the mid-table battle at Wollaton, making 208 as Tom Savill took five wickets and Paul McMahon four. But their bowling efforts proved in vain as Wollaton managed only 161 all out, Liam Andrews taking four wickets to add to his 39 in the Clifton innings.

Gedling's woes at the bottom of the table continued as they lost by three wickets at Cuckney. Richard Stroh proved the difference between the two sides as he took seven wickets for Cuckney as Gedling made 160 all out. Cuckney got home with an over top spare.

Clifton 208-10 in 49.1 overs (20 pts) beat WOLLATON 161-10 in 43.4 overs (6 pts). For Clifton: Hollingsworth 45, Andrews 39 & 4-30, Roberts 30. For Wollaton: Allcoat 56, T.Savill 5-68, P.McMahon 4-45.

Mansfield HM 82-10 in 33.2 overs (0 pts) lost to WI CAVALIERS 84-2 in 15.4 overs (20 pts).For Cavaliers: Ahmed 37, Anderson 3-11, Asghar 3-17, Phillips 3-26.

KILLAMARSH 217-6 in 50 overs (20 pts) beat Welbeck 174-10 in 45.4 overs (4 pts). For Killamarsh: Ludlam 50* & 4-30, Whiteley 41, Malpass 39, Mudhar 3-43. For Welbeck: Fletcher 53, Brice 30 & 3-70.

Kimberley 255-7 dec. in 48 overs (20 pts) beat PLUMTREE 101-10 in 28.4 overs (3 pts). For Kimberley: N.Langford 81, Shaw 50, Mangan 35, M.Langford 30*, Wright 6-28. For Plumtree: Coull 36, Whitehead 4-77.

Gedling 160-10 in 45.1 overs (5 pts) lost to CUCKNEY 162-7 in 49 overs (20 pts). For Gedling: Bailey 53, J.Burton 3-30. For Cuckney: T.Ullyott 35, Butler 33, Stroh 6-70.

PAPPLEWICK 157-10 in 50 overs (17 pts) beat Caythorpe 98-10 in 42 overs (4 pts). For Papplewick: Wakeling 32, Kulasekara 3-22, Dagnall 3-24. For Caythorpe: Riley 3-46.