Posted: April 22.2007

Bowling Old Lane and East Bierley met in a repeat of the 2006 Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield final on the opening day of the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One season and it turned out to be an absolute thriller with the visitors just edging home by one wicket with two balls to spare.

The last time they met, Bierley opener Arron Brook hit an unbeaten 144, this time he was dismissed for a duck and newly-promoted Old Lane must have fancied their chances of avenging their Shield final defeat when they had the visitors struggling at 92 for six in reply to their score of 223.

That Old Lane total had been built around an unbeaten 73 from opener Khalid Rehman plus a fine 53 from Amar Rahim and 37 from Rashid Ramzan.

But Bierley showed they have plenty of backbone. The lower middle order of Chris Brook (45), Paul Ellis (44) and Damien Glover (39) turned the game around and earned Bierley a 17-point win. Of the earlier Bierley batsmen only new boy James Petty (43) made an impression.

Gomersal opener Mick Baldwin started the season with a fine century but ended up on the losing side as his team suffered a three-wicket loss to Keighley on the opening day of the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One programme.

Baldwin made 110 off 102 deliveries with four sixes and 13 fours and with Usman Salim hitting 45 not out, Gomersal made an impressive 257 for six, but Keighley were untroubled by the target facing them. They eased to victory with an over to spare as Ashley Robinson (61no), Robert French (40no) and Alan Broadley (43) spearheaded the successful run chase.

Keighley earned 18 points for their win, but it is Esholt who sit on top of the table after opening with a 20-point maximum against Hanging Heaton.

Veteran Tony Brassington set the tone with 56 and he was supported by Masavar Massadique (40) and Jason Wilkinson (43) as a total of 248 for seven was compiled. Hanging Heaton never looked like matching it and after collapsing to 29 for five an eventual total of 148 all out represented a recovery of sorts. James Byrne (37) top scored for Hanging heaton while last man Andrew Kilner hit a robust 35. The pick of the Esholt bowlers were Ikram Ul-Haq (3-41) and Craig Bagley (3-33).

Champions Woodlands started the defence of their crown with a 59-run triumph over Saltaire. Teenager opener Cieran Garner batted impressively for 96, but it needed some shrewd batting from Richard Godfrey (38) and Phil Walker (37no) to take the total to 206 for eight. Saltaire faltered in reply despite a promising innings from Awais Ejaz who made 36 and they were bowled out for 147.

Mohammad Nawaz won't forget his Baildon debut in a hurry. He opened the batting and made a superb 85 and then followed up with five for 16 as his side dismissed Pudsey St Lawrence for 91 to secure a 131-run win. Nawaz, who hit three sixes and seven fours, was well supported by skipper James Butterfield who hit an unbeaten 55 as Baildon made 222 for five.

Yeadon seamer Richard Machell took six for 39 but couldn't save his team from a 122-run loss against Lightcliffe. Machell had Lightcliffe in some disarray early on but Dominic Finn batted sensibly to change the complexion of the innings with a fine 83. With Stephen Hartley hitting 42, Lightcliffe posted a score of 193. Yeadon were dismissed for 71 in reply as Sam Godden claimed impressive figures of five for seven.

Michael Oldfield got off to a winnings start as Pudsey Congs' new captain. He took three for 45 as Farsley were dismissed for 167 and then watched as his side eased to a four-wicket win with Steve Gunner blasting 61.

Windhill haven't had much to cheer in recent years but if they carry on for the rest of the season in the manner they started the campaign at Bradford & Bingley in their opening Division Two game they will turn a few heads.

Windhill made a staggering 339 for seven with Tony Jones striking four sixes and 11 fours in a sizzling innings of 109. Tahir Amin (51) shared a third-wicket stand of 176 with Jones. Once they were parted, skipper Greg Wilkinson added to the onslaught by hitting a rapid 68 not out off 47 balls. He struck four sixes and seven fours.

Bradford & Bingley's reply was hugely disappointing. they were dismissed for just 94 despite a battling 56 from their new captain Peter Clarke who has joined them from Woodlands. Andrew Evans (5-29) and Ryan Holdsworth (3-29) did the damage.

David Maloney's unbeaten 109 powered Brighouse to an easy eight-wicket win over Bankfoot.Six sixes and 11 fours flowed from his bat as he totally dominated his side's reply to Bankfoot's 141 all out. Martin Hanson was the chief destroyer for Brighouse with six for 21.

Spen Victoria started the season the same way as they finished the last one with victory at Cleckheaton. This time the margin was six wickets and they had to thank their seasoned campaigners Mark Richardson (45), John ireland (43) and Derek Warriner (36) for steering them past Cleckheaton's total of 156.Steven West (3-18) had been the pick of the Spen bowlers when they kept Cleckheaton in check despite the efforts of Chris Ignatowski (41) and opener Chris Dobson (39).

An unbroken third-wicket stand of 136 between Nadeem Ghalib (62no) and Shahid Saleem (71no) guided Manningham Mills to an eight-wicket success against Great Horton.

Bil Akhtar's five for 38 helped bowl Undercliffe to a 22-run win over Morley. Skipper Dave Goodlad (48) and Andy Hayward (43) tried to fashion a win for Morley but Akhtar had other ideas and Undercliffe's score of 159 proved to be defendable..