Neil Ivan Weightman was a left-handed batsman who played four First-Class and eight List-A matches for Nottinghamshire in the early 1980s.
Born in Normanton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire on 5 October 1960, Weightman attended Magnus School in Newark, first played for Notts Seconds in 1977 and joined the County staff in 1980. That year he played regularly for the Second Eleven and in the Bassetlaw League, where he scored two centuries and averaged more than 44 in 20 matches for the Notts Colts side.
Weightman’s first senior appearances came when he was included for the final two John Player League matches of the 1980 season, against Hampshire and then Lancashire. He played in six further List-A matches during August and September 1981. In his eight innings in limited-overs cricket, Weightman made 44 runs, with a top score of 17.
In First-Class cricket, Neil Weightman was part of Nottinghamshire’s 1981 County Championship winning squad, playing in three matches in July and August when he stood in for injured opener Tim Robinson. His debut came against Lancashire at Trent Bridge; in Notts’ second innings he scored 26 and put on 96 runs in an opening stand with Paul Todd as Notts chased down 193 to win by eight wickets. He remained in the side for the next two matches and against Leicestershire at Hinckley, he hit 105 as Notts followed on. He combined with Derek Randall to add 165 for the second wicket but with few significant contributions down the order, Notts lost a nail-biting match with just one ball remaining. The match report in ‘The Times’ noted that ‘Weightman, a 20-year old left-hander from the Newark area, gave one chance, at 82, but otherwise batted with assurance for just over four hours.’
He played in the next Championship match against Surrey, but Robinson then resumed his place at the top of the order for the final six matches as Notts closed out a first Championship triumph since 1929. Weightman returned to the Second Eleven, finishing the 1981 season with 831 runs at an average of 36 in 26 matches at that level.
Weightman played his final match for Nottinghamshire in April 1982 against Cambridge University at Fenner’s, scoring 36 and bowling his only over in senior cricket. He finished his First-Class career with 175 runs at an average of 29. Once again, he spent most of the season in the Seconds where he scored 378 runs and claimed 22 wickets with his off-spin. He had no further opportunities at senior level and was released at the end of 1982.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 489