After losing the toss Marshalls were asked to bat first and skipper Pail van den Heuvel opened the innings with Greg Andrews, but disaster struck as early as the second over as Andrews was caught first ball at mid-on off Kiveton's overseas player Ed Brown.
After a shaky start new batsman Ash Page settled down and he and van den Heuvel added 80 in 23 overs before Page was trapped lbw for 31 by Brooks.
This brought Marshalls own overseas star Andrew Coles to the crease. Van den Heuvel passed his 50 shortly afterwards and he then struck six boundaries in four over and Coles joined him in the run feast with the pair adding 94 in just 14 over before van den Heuvel was run out just three short of an opening day century.
Kev Housham was next in and pushed the ball around well, supporting Coles who took over the aggressor's role before being caught on the boundary for 48.
With just six overs left Chris Hearn was sent in early to try and take the total beyond 250 and he and Housham batted well, adding another 50 runs to take the final total to 260-4.
Housham finished unbeaten on 33 and Hearn made 25 not out, including two sixes.
After tea Marshalls went out looking for early wickets with Darren Andrews opening the bowling with Mark Davies.
Kiveton openers Grainger and Cooper put on 48 for the first wicket before a Davies slower ball deceived the dangerous Cooper and he was caught at mid-wicket by Chris Needham for 30.
The introduction of Hearn into the attack paid dividends as he picked up Grainger in his first over for 14, caught behind by Greg Andrews·
A stand of 30 followed between Brown and Cartwright before Marshalls took the initiative completely, Davies and Hearn providing some excellent seam bowling as four wickets fell for 20 runs.
First Cartwright was bowled by Hearn for 8, followed quickly by Davies removing Brown for 23, again caught behind.
Hearn got Ward lbw for 0 before a run out removed Huddel for 8 leaving Kiveton on 105-6.
Davies completed his 15-over spell taking 2-40 and Hearn had 3-24 in nine overs.
A double bowling change was then made with Coles and Gary Andrews being introduced and the latter bowled Bullivant in his first over with an excellent delivery to give Marshalls a real sniff of victory.
Brooks joined his captain Coxon and they tried to steer their side to safety bur when Housham was brought into the attack to break the partnership he duly obliged, bowling Brooks for 21.
He then caught and bowled Rhodes for six in his next over leaving Marshalls needing just one wicket for the win.
Coles was re-introduced and had Coxon caught by van den Heuvel at slip in the penultimate over for 38, leaving Kiveton bowled out for 183.
After the match skipper van den Heuvel said: "It was an excellent all-round team performance. Kiveton were fancied to do well this year and this is a great start for us.
"However, we must improve on some aspects as our fielding was not up to the standard of last year and we dropped some catches which could have proved costly, but overall it was a really pleasing start.
Thanks go to scorer John Connor and to match ball sponsor East Midlands Instruments.
This Saturday sees Marshalls at home to Notts and Arnold on Saturday and then away to Farnsfield on Bank Holiday Monday.