JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams review July 28, 2007

Posted:July 29, 2007

Baildon eased their relegation fears and put a dent in Lightcliffe's JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One title hopes as they secured a 59-run win.

Skipper James butterfield (44), Mohammad Nawaz (37) and Matthew Reed (37) helped Baildon make 178 despite some good bowling from Sam Godden (4-53), Alex Tait (3-36) and Roger Stead (3-41).

Lightcliffe's batting was disappointing. They were dismissed for 119 with spinner jamie Abbott picking up three for 33 as Baildon collected a welcome 18 points.

Two more lowly sides who gained much-needed wins were nine-man Woodlands and Farsley. Woodlands made 216-5 with teenage batsmen Harry Smallwood (96no) and Elliott Milnes (46) catching the eye. Esholt were dismissed for 107 as Phil Walker took five for 32. The result means that Esholt have now slipped into the relegation positions alongside Gomersal.

Farsley, who have tumbled down the table in recent weeks, arrested their slump by defeating Keighley by three wickets. Joe Greaves hit an unbeaten 82 to steer them to victory with one ball to spare as they overhauled a Keighley score of 195-6 which owed much to the efforts of Tim Burnley (43) and Alan Birkett (41).

There was no joy for bottom team Gomersal. They were dismissed for just 59 as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat against second-placed Yeadon. Paul Machell (3-6), Stephen Gilkes (3-16) and Jonathan Carey (3-18) put the skids under Gomersal. Yeadon's win means they are now 27 points adrift of Lightcliffe.

Third-placed East Bierley won a high-scoring thriller against Pudsey Sty Lawrence by 10 runs. East Bierley made 262-9 with Richard McKirhan top scoring with 48, but their match-winner was in-form paceman Dan Abbott who took six for 61 as St lawrence were dismissed for 252. Skipper James Milligan (92) and Craig Trapps (61) were the top scorers for St Lawrence.

Hanging Heaton's bowlers earned them a 25-run triumph over Bowling Old Lane. Michael Horner took four for 20 and was supported by Peter Byrne (3-19) and Umar Rehman (3-35) as Old Lane were dismissed for 100. Andrew Nettleton (34) top scored in Hanging Heaton's innings of 125.

Saltaire were made to pay for a disappointing batting performance as they suffered a four-wicket defeat against Pudsey Congs. Tausef Arshad (35) was the only player to look comfortable.

Congs lost two early wickets but recovered to win with Shane Blanchard (25) the main contributor as they replied with 107-6.

Division Two leaders Cleckheaton won a thriller against Bradford & Bingley by just seven runs. Teenage all-rounder Marcus Walmsley had a fine match. He made 32 and followed up with four for 25. Chris Dobson (48) was the other key performer as he helped Cleckheaton to a score of 160-9.

Bradford & Bingley looked to be going well when Henry Haslam (46) was at the wicket, but from 101-2, Bradford & Bingley slumped to 153 all out. The 17 points gained enabled Cleckheaton to stretch their lead over second-placed Manningham Mills to 17 points.

Mills had to settle for 15 points after bowling our Morley for 62 to set up a five-wicket win. Syed Ahmed (4-15) and Waheed Khan (3-14) were the main wicket takers for Mills. Shahid Saleem made an unbeaten 22 to steer Mills home to victory.

Great Horton were dismissed for just 46 by Idle who recorded a seven-wicket triumph. Shane Marshall (6-27) and Neil McClelland (4-16) did the damage for Idle who eased home with Michael Birts making 34.

Great Horton's defeat opened the door for Spen Victoria to take third place from them. Spen defeated Windhill by 118 runs and their match-winner was John Ireland. He top scored with 60 and took five for 35 as Windhill were dismissed for 70. Spen had looked in trouble at 79-5 when they batted first but Ireland and Sam Birkinshaw (41no) guided them to a total of 188-7.

Undercliffe were another side to be dismissed for a low score. They were bowled out for 72 by Brighouse who then struggled to secure a three-wicket win. Martin Hanson was the pick of the Brighouse bowlers with four for 33 while Sonny Matharu took three for 17 for Undercliffe.