THE top-of-the-table clash between Radcliffe-on-Trent and Long Eaton in Division A lived up to its billing with Radcliffe winning on the final delivery of a thrilling match.

Radcliffe's Eddie Torr struck the first blows with two quick wickets, including Brett Scothern who was looking for a third successive century.

South African Leon Botha (53) and Andy Edge (31) batted well to repair the damage. A score over 200 looked probable but back came Torr (6-27) to take care of the tail. Despite an unbeaten 35 from spinner Mark Harrison, the visitors were slightly disappointed with their 182.

Alan Villiers and Craig Mellors bowled beautifully to remove danger men Sutton and Ellison. Mark Noblet hit 35 but at 82-4, Long Eaton would have been quietly confident.

A match-winning partnership was then forged between Simon Hopson (52*) and Richard Fentum (45*), and it boiled down to six required off the last over and one off the final ball. After a failed run-out attempt, Radcliffe were home.

Balderton (229) continued their policy of winning the toss and batting and it paid off, as they collected their first 20-point haul of the season against an out-of-sorts Eastwood (136) team.

The highlight of the home sides' innings was a second century of the season for skipper Alan Jackson (103). Chris Dobbie (55) was also in the runs and a total of 250 looked probable until Dobbie slipped after being sent back for a third run.

At the death, Eastwood gained some bowling points, with Luke Essen (4-47) impressing.

It was fairly even in the reply with Eastwood at 61-2. But the 17th over, bowled by Ishan Ratnayake, changed everything. Ejaz Ahmed (29) played a rash shot, then Ratnayake found another gear and dismissed the Ul Haq brothers in successive deliveries.

From then on, with the exception of Imran Azam (43), the remainder of the innings was a sorry procession. Ratnayake collected five wickets while Paul Colcomb and Harry Sheppard grabbed two wickets apiece.

After putting in such a good performance at Radcliffe last Saturday, Southwell (142) fell to a third reversal in four weeks at Notts Unity.

The home side recovered well from 32-4 to post 154 thanks to 86 from ex-Papplewick youngster Wasim Rana. Matthew Davis (4-42) continues to impress for Southwell.

Southwell were well set at 112-5, but Ben Savage (4-27) rocked the visitors and together with Usman Mussafer (3-53), Southwell slipped to nine wickets down.

There were still four overs remaining at this stage but, an unfortunate run-out sealed Southwell's fate.

Another team to recover from a disastrous start and go on to win were Belvoir who were at home to Gedling Colliery.

Belvoir were 60-6 at one stage, but there were runs in the late order from James Fellows (38) and veteran Tony Wade (40) to get the score up to 150.

The chase didn't seem to hold any issues at first as Gedling cruised to 75-1 thanks to the Burtons – Graham (38) and Jeff (28).

However the spin duo of Fellows (3-38) and Darren Bicknell (2-13) changed the game as the visitors slipped to 128 all out.

Gedling and Sherwood notched up their first victory of the season and it came against their closest rivals Calverton who posted 183, Harry Bhaker (71*) top scoring.

Tom Morley and Carl Blake both hit 50s as the home side got there with two wickets intact.

It's as you were at the top in B with comprehensive victories for the leading duo of Hyson Green Caribs and Gotham.

Caribs made short work of chasing 135 at Newstead Village with contributions from Zak Hussain (70) and Waheed Khan (41).

Earlier in the day, left armer Taufseer Shah had claimed five scalps.

Hucknall (155) must be sick of the sight of Gotham (220) as they completed a comfortable double over the losers thanks to Alex Haworth (55) and Kevin Perrell (38).

Gotham also now have an impressive bowling line-up with the wickets being shared out each week. This week it was the turn of Rob Goddard (3-52), Steve Haworth (2-4) and Brett James (2-15) to do the damage.

Ellerslie had a ten-run reversal at home to Loughborough (208). Both Mark Trimmingham and Julian Richardson (64) batted well for the winners as did Nadeem Akhtar (71) for the losers who were undone with the ball by Mark Gamlyn (5-61).

There were runs at last for Rolls' top order with an excellent first-wicket partnership between Dave Dixon (50) and Graeme Wright (61).

Clifton Village II hit back in the shape of David McDermott (5-34) and it took a mature innings late on from Jake Wright (40) to get Rolls up to 206.

After tea, Saleem Karim (3-34), who twice had to go off injured, turned the screw. Despite 43 from Anthony Hart, regular wickets were taken at the other end through Ian Dowell and Wasim Karim leaving the last pair to bat out four overs for a losing draw.

It was a must-win game for Kimberley and Keyworth at the foot of the table and stand-in skipper Rob Baker crashed 40 out of the first 49 for the winless visitors. Ted Elliott (38) continued the good work before Keyworth were checked in their stride by the spin of Craig Pitts (3-35) and Ben Millington (2-24) before Paul Blatherwick finished matters off with three wickets in his only over.

Chasing 179 to win, a typical Pitts (54) innings got Kimberley well on their way before four wickets from Baker had the game on a knife edge.

The winning contribution came from 15-year-old Prabhdip Sidhu (44*) who showed maturity beyond his years to guide his Kimberley team to 20 vital points.