Retford have to settle for the draw
Retford now stand equal in fourth place but only a 10 point collection from the match at Stone Close was added to their tally after a hard fought match resulting in Retford having to settle for the losing draw points despite another solid batting display.
Kiveton adopted their usual "bat first" policy upon winning the toss and Ward and Hadley mixed good shot selection with good fortune as the Retford opening bowlers Shepherd and Broadley found the edge of both players' bats only to see the ball elude the fielders on several occasions.
Stuart Adams was introduced into the attack and settled on a good line and length. And he finally broke the opening pair as Darren Spooner held the catch to dismiss Ward for 35 with the total at 70 in the 18th over.
Grainger continued the good work for the home side as he struck four boundaries in a fluid 30 runs before giving a catch to Jon Cooke also off the bowling of Adams but by this time the Kiveton score had gone past the 130 mark at the mid-innings drinks break.
A very large total seemed on the cards with still 20 overs remaining but Paul Singleton gave Retford their next breakthrough when he dismissed Hadley for 70 via Rob Condy's catch.
At 161 Kiveton also lost the wicket of Cartwright (14) with John Laking hanging on to an excellent catch on the run at mid-on also off Singleton's reduced pace.
Darren Spooner was introduced into the attack in place of Adams who had bowled another very good 12 over spell for his team claiming two for 57.
Spooner trapped Rhodes (15) lbw in his first over with Kiveton now over the 200 mark going in to the last 10 overs.
Coxon (13) also fell to the Spooner/Singleton and Singleton distinguished himself as he had Spurr (0) held at the wicket by John Musgrove first ball.
The hat-trick delivery was a gem as it caught the edge of Gilbert's bat but the ball eluded first slip.
Gilbert (7) fell soon after though as he strayed from his crease giving Musgrove a comfortable stumping and Singleton his deserved fifth wicket of the innings as the all-rounder finished the day with five for 56 from his 13 overs.
Spooner bowled Smith (10) in the final over of the innings to give Retford their fourth bowling bonus point as Kiveton closed on a 257 for nine.
The Retford reply started with the now formidable partnership of Pascal Broadley and Rob Condy adding another 50 partnership in just 12 overs.
With the total on 69 in the 17th over Condy struck a simple catch to midwicket off the slow right arm of Donaghy, the Australian departing for 34 to be replaced by Spooner who settled in quickly.
Broadley was in fine form before he was given out in somewhat controversial circumstances when he left his crease but seemed to make his ground back before being stumped off the bowling of Coxon for 53 when his team looked well set for an assault on the target at 122 for two in the 26th over.
Kevin Pattenden made just three before becoming another Coxon victim and Jon Cooke joined Spooner with some hard hitting required to regain the initiative for the visitors.
Cooke made an excellent 40 before he was seventh man out with the total on 194.
Spooner had departed for a good 25, followed by Musgrove (8) and Singleton (12), as Retford tried in vain to match the required run rate for the win.
Sam Shepherd and Stuart Adams easily negotiated the final five overs as Retford's total passed the 200 mark required for maximum batting bonus points.
But the Kiveton total had proved a little too much given the extravagant turn afforded to the slow bowling of Donaghy who finished with figures of three for 69 from 15 overs in partnership with Coxon's three for 56.
Finishing their 50 overs on 207 for eight Retford took 10 points.
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