JCT 600 Bradford League First teams review July 29, 2007

Posted: July 29, 2007

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Champions Woodlands are now a massive 48 points clear at the top of the JCT 600 Bradford League Division One after an eventful day which saw them secure a 52-run win over Bradford & Bingley while their closest challengers East Bierley were dismissed for just 60 as they suffered an eight-wicket loss at Tofts Road.

Third-placed Pudsey Congs were involved in a tie against lowly Farsley and Manningham Mills, who started the day in fourth place, suffered a seven-wicket defeat at Hanging Heaton. But perhaps the most significant result of the afternoon came at Bowling Old Lane where the home side hauled themselves off the bottom of the table with a four-wicket win over Brighouse.

Woodlands, barring a spectacular loss of form, look set for their third successive league championship. They secured their 15th win in 18 matches - the other three were all abandoned without a ball being bowled - in their usual efficient style.

Batting first they made 244-5 with opener Sam Frankland hitting his second half- century of the weekend. Frankland made 77 and shared in a second-wicket stand of 103 with skipper Tim Orrell who made 61. There was also another solid contribution from Chris Brice who finished 39 not out. Chris Thompson was the pick of the Bradford & Bingley bowlers with four for 80.

Bradford & Bingley's reply of 192-8 was dominated by the in-form Craig Cockshott. He made an unbeaten 77 but didn't receive the support he needed for his side to seriously threaten the Woodlands score. Opening bowlers Safraz Ahmed (3-30) and Pieter Swanepoel (3-42) were a constant threat.

Woodlands collected 19 points for their win and that contrasted starkly with the solitary point east Bierley collected after being skittled out for 60. Second teamer Richard McKirgan was their top scorer with 15 as they crumbled against the seam bowling of James Smith (6-30). St Lawrence openers Mark Robertshaw (30) and Alex Stead (23) carried their side to the brink of victory before both were dismissed in quick succession to give East Bierley their only crumb of comfort on a miserable afternoon when their title challenge may well have finally faded away.

Pudsey Congs would have gone second if they had defeated Farsley, but skipper Babar Butt was dismissed off the final ball with the scores tied. He was caught by Steve Lawrence attempting to make the winning hit off Matthew Lumb's bowling.

Butt had made a fine 77 which had taken his side from the edge of disaster at 30-5 to the brink of victory. Glen Roberts (30) helped Butt to initiate the recovery but it was Tom Glover who played a bigger part as he hit an unbeaten 38 in an eight-wicket stand of 104 with Butt. The early Congs batting had been undone by Chris Henry who claimed three for 43 in a fine 15 over spell.

Farsley had also suffered early setbacks in their innings. They were 31-4 before wicketkeeper Dave Syers and skipper Ashley Metcalfe pulled things round. Syers made a splendid 92 and was well supported by Metcalfe who made 45 as Farsley set a target of 194-8. Glover, who had a fine afternoon, was the pick of the Congs bowlers with three for 44. Each team picked up 12 points.

There was plenty of drama at the foot of the table where Bowling Old Lane bounced back from their crushing defeat at Hanging Heaton 24 hours earlier to defeat inconsistent Brighouse by four wickets.

Oversea players Shoaib Khan (50) and teenager Fahid Rehman (49no) steered Old Lane past the Brighouse score of 154 all out. Chris Greenwood was again the best Brighouse bowler with three for 52.

Once again the Brighouse batting line-up misfired. Haroon Rashid was the only batsman to make an impression as he made an unbeaten 86 which contained four sixes and four fours. Opening bowler Bilal Ejaz returned his best Bradford League figures of five for 35 while Amjid Khan took three for 24.

The 17 valuable points that Old Lane gained have moved them 12 ahead of Idle - who have dropped to the bottom - and they are just five behind Farsley who now occupy 12th place.

Idle's woes continued at Cleckheaton where they lost by 46 runs. Overseas player Mohammad Zaman had an outstanding match for Cleckheaton. He scored 50 and followed up with four for 27 as his side gained amends for their defeat at Pudsey Congs on Saturday.

Openers John Wood (41) and Michael Nicholson (35) were the other main contributors to a Cleckheaton score of 192-9. Paceman Michael Allen was the pick of the Idle bowlers with five for 42 while off spinner Paul Cummins took three for 53.

Cummins was also the pick of the Idle batsmen. He made an unbeaten 78 and was the only player to look in command as his side stuttered to 146-6. The 16 points gained have enabled Cleckheaton to move up to fifth.

Manningham Mills have dropped from fourth to sixth after losing by seven wickets to Hanging Heaton. Mills seem to have a phobia about Sunday matches and their sequence of defeats was extended at Bennett Lane.

Chris Schofield took four for 42 as Mills were dismissed for a disappointing 134. Mohammad Maroof (42no), Amar Rashid 932) and Muenoddin Kadri (30) provided the bulk of the runs.

Hanging Heaton cruised to victory with Sujith Vidanage making 39 before he had to retire hurt, and Thilan Thushara hitting 31. It was Hanging Heaton's second win of the weekend and they are now 17 points above the relegation positions.

Baildon followed up their Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup quarter-final win over Saltaire on Wednesday by inflicting a 60 run defeat on the same opponents at Roberts Park to move up to fourth in the table. Teenage batsman Jonny Reynolds made an undefeated 102 which contained eight fours as Baildon built a score of 215-4. Reynolds arrived at the wicket with his side 10-2, but he led a fine recovery with help from former Saltaire player Tabi Bhatti (44) and Matthew Duce (34).

Saltaire lost wickets at regular intervals with only Gulsheraz Ahmed (38) and Aftab Ahmed (32) making much impression on an attack in which spinners Mushtaq Ahmed (4-27) and Jeremy Batty (2-55) were again prominent. Saltaire finished on 155-9.