JCT 600 Bradford League second team review June 23, 2007

Posted: June 24, 2007

Champions Woodlands are in danger of relegation after losing a tense basement battle to Gomersal in the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One.

The title holders are now just seven-points ahead of Gomersal and have lost eight of their 12 matches. They will need to improve markedly in the second half of the season if they are to avoid the drop.

Gomersal haven't had a lot to cheer this season but they fought hard for their win. Opener Usman Salim made 48 to help them to a score of 133 all out, then Jay Boynton picked up three for 33 as the ten-men of Woodlands were dismissed for 125.

Baildon are another team in trouble. They are just a point ahead of Woodlands after being dismissed for just 36 to lose by 130 against Yeadon. Jon Carey produced the stunning figures of eight for 16 as Baildon crumbled.

Carey had earlier made 39 with the bat. Graeme Simpson (47) and Will Darby (27) were the other main contributors to a total of 166. Abid Jahangir was the best Baildon bowler with five for 45.

Farsley, who lead the table early in the season, have dropped to tenth place. Their latest reverse was by 84 runs to Bowling Old Lane. Than man who engineered their downfall was Talat Sajawal. He smashed nine sixes and three fours in a rapid innings of 102 which helped Old lane to make 202 all out and he followed up by taking five for 28 as Farsley were bowled out for 118.

Pudsey St Lawrence are another side who have seen their fortunes wane in recent weeks. They suffered an 80-run defeat against much-improved Saltaire. Usman Munir hit an unbeaten 68 to take Saltaire to 149-8, then Tausef Arshad (5-24) and Awais Ijaz (3-26) bowled out St Lawrence for 99 - a score which would have been even sorrier if number ten Matthew Dibb hadn't made 36.

Leaders Lightcliffe faltered again. They went down by two wickets at Esholt. A Lightcliffe win looked a strong possibility when Esholt slumped to 69-7 in pursuit of Lightcliffe's 138, but Steffan Garbus (37) and Phil Buckroyd (29no) turned the game around with a decisive eighth-wicket stand of 69. Roger Stead was the best Lightcliffe bowler with four for 38. In the Lightcliffe innings Richie Powe hit 35 while Stuart Houlbrook (3-39) and Ikram Ul-Haq (3-25) were Esholt's most effective bowlers.

Hanging heaton leap-frogged over East Bierley into second place after defeating them by 52 runs. Ben Gilbert smashed 87 to guide Hanging Heaton to 181-8, then spinner Umar Rehman claimed four for 31 as East Bierley were dismissed for 129. John Davis was the top scorer with 49.

Keighley moved level with east Bierley on 130 points after defeating Pudsey Congs by seven wickets. Ashley Robinson took five for 13 as Congs were dismissed for 105. Lee Gordon was unbeaten on 43 when victory was achieved.

Cleckheaton won the top of Division Two clash with leaders Manningham Mills. Cleckheaton rolled their rivals over for 117 with Edward Walmsley (3-28), Marcus Walmsley (3-30) and Fraser Green (3-35) running through the Mills batting. Opener Mohammad Faisal offered the only resistance with 39.

Cleckheaton reached their victory target for the loss of four wickets after Chris Dobson made 42, Dean Worrall (37) and Edward Walmsley (32no).

Spen Victoria's old guard ensured that they kept their promotion challenge going. Evergreen opener Mark Richardson (60) and Leigh Manton (46) helped Spen to make 155-7 before their experienced bowlers Chris Hester (4-11) and John Ireland (3-14) skittled Brighouse for 46 to clinch a 109-run win.

Great Horton are just two points adrift of Spen in fourth place after a 45-run triumph over Bradford & Bingley. Numan Ahsan made an unbeaten 76 in a Great Horton total of 130, Michael Clarke (4-30) and Steve Dunn (4-29) bowled well from Bradford & Bingley.

Bradford & Bingley had no answer to the bowling of Ijaz Ahmed (6-22) as they were dismissed for 85. Only skipper Peter Clarke (44) resisted for long.

Lowly Bankfoot had a thrilling one-wicket win over Windhill. Their last-wicket pair of Wayne Robinson (33no) and John Wilson (26no) shared an unbroken stand of 40 which clinched victory with three balls to spare. Windhill's Dave Pearce took five for 47 before his side were pipped at the post .Windhill had made 189 - a score which was built around an unbeaten 63 from Phil Drake.

Two experienced bowlers were in the wickets in Idle's 30-run win over Morley. Morley skipper dave Goodlad claimed five for 35 as Idle were dismissed for 154, then Paul Howler responded with five for 10 as Morley were bowled out for 124.

Andy Wilsdon was once again in fine all-round form for Undercliffe. He made 52 and followed up with four for 37 in an 82-run win. Sonny Matharu (50), Sofian Khan (45) and Amir Ditta (32) were the other main contributors to a total of 228-8. Hartshead Moor were dismissed for 146 as Wilsdon and Simon Medd (3-40) posed problems.