JCT 600 Bradford League first teams review, August 4, 2007

Posted: August 4, 2007

Chris Brice underlined once again his immense value to league champions Woodlands as he helped his side to secure an 88-run win at Cleckheaton which extended their lead in the JCT 600 Bradford League Division One table to 50 points.

Brice arrived at the wicket with his side in deep trouble at 41-4 and struggling to contain the lively Cleckheaton new-ball attack of Ian Wardlaw and Craig Wiseman.

Showing great determination and skill he transformed Woodlands' fortunes with his highest ever Bradford League score of 88 not out. Brice struck two sixes and 11 fours and enabled his side to post a score of 212-8 which was far bigger than seemed likely.

Brice received initial support from opener Sam Frankland who made 38 and looked in good form until Ian Wood knocked his off stump back with a superb delivery in his first over after replacing Wiseman.

Murphy Walwyn, the man for all seasons, made 31 and shared a stand of 64 with Brice as the tempo of the innings quickened. Safraz Ahmed's rapid 21 also helped boos the scoring rate. Wardlaw (3-52) and Wiseman (3-33) were easily the most impressive of the Cleckheaton bowlers.

Cleckheaton needed a good start if they were to challenge the Woodlands score, but it didn't materialise. Safraz Ahmed (4-27) and Pieter Swanepoel (4-53) ensured they were always under pressure and Cleckheaton were dismissed for 124. The brightest batting came from last wicket pair Wardlaw (25no) and Wiseman (12) who added 31 before Wiseman holed out when just one more run would have secure a batting point.

Second-placed East Bierley won an exciting game at Brighouse by 23 runs. East Bierley made 242-5 with Gharib Razak (52) and skipper Gavin Hamilton (51) making half centuries.

Brighouse made a brave attempt to chase the East Bierley title but finished on 219-4. Haroon Rashid maintained his excellent form with a knock of 86 while Mark Gill made 62.

Third-placed Pudsey Congs defeated their bogey side Baildon by six wickets at Jenny Lane. Andrew Bourke made his highest Bradford League score of 80 not out and Alexis Twigg hit 68 as Congs overhauled the Baildon score of 197-6 with an over to spare.

Baildon's innings was given a sound base by opener Simon Davies (53) and his efforts were built on by Jonny Reynolds (31) and then Mushtaq Ahmed who smashed a rapid 42 not out. Mark Bray, bowling against his old club, was the pick of the Congs bowlers with four for 39.

Pudsey St Lawrence added to relegation-threatened Farsley's woes when they won a high-scoring encounter at Tofts Road. James Smith smashed a stunning 124 off just 58 balls with nine sixes and 10 fours as St Lawrence passed the Farsley score of 266-5 in 44.3 overs. Opener Alex Stead made 85 not out and shared a second-wicket stand of 182. Stead had earlier put on 80 for the first wicket with Mark Robertshaw (53)

Farsley, who are just four points above the relegation places, must have hoped for a more positive outcome when they made 266-5. Sri Lankan Kallum Fernando led the way with 86not out and there were good contributions from Shabbir Rashid (57) and Alex Blakeborough (48).

There was a tense game at Idle where the bottom-of-the-table home side lost by one wicket to Hanging Heaton. Neil Nicholson (43) and Steve Thompson (30) were the main contributors to Idle's modest score of 149.

Hanging Heaton's hopes of victory looked bleak when they plunged to 28-4, but Jam,s Stansfield revived his side with three sixes and ten fours in a knock of 80 which enabled them to snatch a valuable win. Greg Colehan (5-60) and Paul Cummins (4-30) were the best of the Idle bowlers.

Bowling Old Lane remain in the relegation positions after their game with Bradford & Bingley was abandoned with 12 overs to go. Old Lane were on 149-7 when play was halted. Bilal Ejaz (34no) and Wajid Hussain (29no) had added an unbroken 53 for the eighth wicket when the end came.

Bradford & Bingley had made 216-8, a score which owed much to an opening stand of 139 between skipper Carl Sharp (80) and Phil Slater (79). Amjid Han (3-71) and Shoaib Khan (3-47) were the pick of the bowlers.

Saltaire's opening bowler Imran Arif was in devastating form against Manningham Mills. He took seven for 30 as Mills - despite 60 from their number nine batsman Mohammad Siad - were bowled out for 120.

Saltaire lost early wickets but secured a comfortable win with George Hicks (27no) and Aftab Ahmed (25no) steering their side home.

Yeadon maintained their hold on the Division Two leadership with an emphatic ten-wicket win over Great Horton. Steve Cobley marked his return to the side by taking four for 40 as Great Horton were dismissed for 151. Openers Andrew Robertson (83no) and James Todd (52no) sped Yeadon to their victory target and another valuable 17 points.

Second-placed Morley had a few anxious moments before beating bottom team Hartshead Moor by seven runs. From a position of strength at 106-1, Morley slumped to 138 all out as nine wickets fell for just 32 runs. Opener Matt Taylor carried his bat for 45, but the top scorer was Shoaib Khan 47. James Marshall (4-64) and Trent Otto (4-14) were the pick of the bowlers.

The Hartshead Moor innings was dominated by a fine knock of 70 by Craig Field. The rest of the batting crumbled as James Russell claimed four for 45. Hartshead Moor finished on 131 all out.

Third-placed Gomersal suffered a big setback to their promotion hopes when they suffered a two-wicket defeat against neighbours Spen Victoria. Gomersal were dismissed for 134 with off spinner James Finch claiming three for 17.

Spen Victoria overcame a few nervy moments to win. Matthew Speck (47) and Stuart Cope (41) saw them home despite some good bowling from Bradley Drake (4-26).

Keighley kept in the promotion hunt with a six-wicket win over Windhill. Richard Robinson (3-6) and Andrew Coppen (3-30) helped dismiss Windhill for 117, Stuart Ratcliffe hit an unbeaten 45 as Keighley cruised to victory.

Esholt's hopes of promotion for the first time were dealt another body blow. They suffered a six-wicket defeat to Lightcliffe.

Overseas player Bilal Hussain was outstanding for Lightcliffe clamming four for 33 and making and unbeaten 65 as Lightcliffe passed the Esholt score of 148.