JCT 600 Bradford League second teams review July 7, 2007

Posted: July 8, 2007

Evergreen Roger Stead produced an outstanding all-round performance to guide JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One leaders Lightcliffe to a 35-run win over rock-bottom Gomersal.

Stead made an unbeaten 52 to steer Lightcliffe to a total of 163 which was far greater than seemed likely when they stumbled to 77-7 as Ryan Kitson took three for 18.

Gomersal's reply was dominated by an innings of 53 from Craig Lightowler. He was the only batsman to look at ease as Stead followed up his batting heroics by taking six for 28 as Gomersal were dismissed for 128.

Hanging Heaton remain second despite suffering an 84-run reverse against champions Woodlands.Two of Woodlands' youngsters, opening batsman Cieran Garner, who made 60 in their score of 143, and Harry Smallwood who claimed five for 30 as Hanging Heaton were dismissed for 59, were the game's best performers.

Hanging Heaton are just two points ahead of Yeadon who have rocketed up the table in recent weeks. They continued their good run with a 24-run win over Bowling Old Lane. Will Darby (38), Kevin Gilks (31) and Darren Machell (30) guided Yeadon to a total of 152-9. Skipper Haqeeq Siddique was the pick of the Old Lane bowlers with four for 42.

Old Lane looked well place to win as Rashid Ramzan (40) guided them to 72-1 before a collapse saw them lose their last nine wickets for 56 runs. Jon Carey took five for 27 and Nick Darfield (4-30).

Faltering Farsley suffered another setback when they went down by 20 runs to Pudsey St Lawrence. Farsley must have fancied their chances when they dismissed St Lawrence for 124, Lawrie Thewlis taking four for 16, but St Lawrence hit back hard and dismissed Farsley for 104. Anthony Yelding (3-30) and Adam Hopkins (3-36) were the main wicket takers.

Shane Blanchard hit an unbeaten 48 as Pudsey Congs made 200-8 as they defeated East Bierley by 79 runs. Matthew Anderson was the most successful East Bierley bowler with four for 63. East Bierley's reply petered out once Arron Brook (37) and James Petty (39) were dismissed. Bierley were all out for 121 with skipper Michael Oldfield taking three for 21 and Ben Birkill (3-22).

Baildon eased their relegation fears with a comfortable five-wicket win over Saltaire. Gary Orrell was their match-winner taking seven for 20 as Saltaire were bowled out for 112. Mohammad Nawaz made 55 as Baildon cruised to their target.

The match between Esholt and Keighley was abandoned without a ball being bowled. The Esholt ground still hadn't fully recovered from the after effects of its recent flooding.

It's all change at the top of Division Two following leaders Manningham Mills' 160-run reverse at Bradford & Bingley. The home side piled up the day's highest total of 250-4 with Waj Ali making an unbeaten 111. Ali struck one six and 15 fours and he shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 135 with skipper Peter Clarke (67) which rescued his the home side from 15-3. A rapid 41 not out from Adam Swallow swelled the score. Mills batted poorly in reply and were dismissed for 90 with Danny Trowers taking four for 20.

Cleckheaton are the new leaders after their 140-run triumph over Bankfoot. Russell Noble top scored with 56 as Cleckheaton made 220-7, then Frazer Green (3-12) and Chris Ignatowski (3-23) bowled out Bankfoot for 80.

Great Horton moved up to third by beating Hartshead Moor by four wickets. they dismissed Hartshead Moor for just 48 with Ijaz Ahmed taking seven for 35, but struggled to score the runs they needed for victory as Gary Turner took four for 29.

Great Horton moved above Spen Victoria who suffered a six-run reverse at Morley.Tom Wallis was the outstanding performer for Morley. He top scored with 16 as they were bowled out for 86 and took four for 12 as Spen were dismissed for 80. Spen's John Ireland took five for seven in the Morley innings.

Idle's faltering promotion challenge suffered another setback when they suffered a four-wicket defeat to Brighouse. Idle were dismissed for 112 as Martin Hanson took four for nine. Hanson followed up with an unbeaten 26 as he and Dave Maloney (28) ensured victory for their side. Veteran Paul Howker took five for 27 for idle.

Sohail Khan (5-29) and Simon Medd (4-41) bowled Undercliffe to a narrow nine-run win over Windhill. They joined forces to help their side bowl out Windhill for 180 despite some defiant late batting by Danny Maguire. Undercliffe made 189-9 with Andy Wilsdon making 35 and Sonny Matharu (30).