JCT 600 Bradford League second teams review June 9, 2007

Posted: June 10, 2007

Lightcliffe strengthened their position at the top of the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One when they defeated second-placed Farsley by four runs in a thrilling game at Red Lane.

The last time these two sides met was on the final day of last season when Lightcliffe pulled off the win they needed to avoid relegation and at the same time they deprived Farsley of their chance of taking the league title.

Since that day Lightcliffe haven't looked back. This was another example of the progress they have made as they built a score of 261-9 batting first. Alex Tait hammered a rapid 64, while Roger Stead (42), Ramsay Al-Chalaby (38no) and Gareth Stevens (35) all made valuable runs while Adam Walker (4-63) was the best Farsley bowler.

Farsley's reply was dominated by Asif Amir. He struck five sixes and 14 fours in a fine innings of 120 not out, but even his efforts weren't quite enough to force the win Farsley wanted. They finished on 257-8 with There Moodley (36) the other main scorer.

Newly-promoted Saltaire are simply racing up the table after a poor start. They are now fifth after defeating East Bierley by 30 runs to record their fifth win. The match featured two centuries. Sajid Ali hit 14 fours in his 101 for Saltaire as they reached 265-7, while East Bierley skipper Matt Anderson made a defiant 114, with three sixes and 14 fours, after his side had plunged to 28-5. They were eventually bowled out for 235.

Gomersal plunged to the foot of the table after losing by eight wickets to Pudsey Congs. Ben Burkill took seven for 12 as Gomersal were dismissed for 91. Warren Allitt (30) and Richard Jubb (28) helped Congs towards their modest victory target.

Baildon lifted themselves out of the relegation positions when they defeated defending champions Woodlands by four wickets. Joe Lonsdale claimed five for 50 as Woodlands were restricted to 138-8. Chris Reynolds (57no) and Graham Bent (50no) shared an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 83 to seal baildon's win. Joel Metcalfe (3-22) and Phil Walker (3-27) were the best Woodlands bowlers.

Yeadon lifted themselves off the bottom with a 97-run win over Pudsey St Lawrence. Darren Machell (47) and Graham Simpson (42) steered Yeadon to 208-8. St Lawrence were dismissed for 111 with Paul Machell picking up four for 32.

Bowling Old Lane continue to falter. They were dismissed for 110 by Esholt who went on to win by six wickets. Andrew West (4-28) posed most problems for the Old Lane batsmen with only Shahid Alishan (37) making and impression.

Andrew Waggett gave a fine all-round performance to help Keighley defeat Hanging Heaton. He took four for five as Hanging Heaton were bowled out for 110 and made an unbeaten 63 as his side secured a four-wicket win.

Manningham Mills maintained their position at the top of Division Two with a comfortable win over third-placed Spen Victoria by 68 runs. Nadeem Ghalib (51) and Najid Choudrey (48no) ensured Mills posted a challenging 177 all out in the face of good bowling from 15-year-old Robert Warriner four for 18 and old-stager Chris Hester (3-21).

Spen's batting, with the exception of opener David Hester (42), was disappointing as they were dismissed for 109. Syed Ahmed returned figures of six for 18 from 13.1 overs.

Dean Worrell made a quick-fire 101 off just 59 balls with three sixes and 13 fours as second-placed Cleckheaton made 304-6 before bowling out Windhill for 127. Worrell was well supported by Chris Dobson (81), Ian Gatenby (47) and Edward Walmsley (32). Chris Ignatowski took five for 55 as Windhill crumbled. Ryan Holdsworth top scored with 38.

Bradley Goodaire, captain of Bradford's Joe Lumb team, showed his prowess with the ball as Idle defeated Undercliffe by five runs in a tense game. Goodaire took six for 25 as Undercliffe were dismissed for 193 despite a rousing 106 from veteran Andy Wilsden who clouted nine sixes and five fours. Idle's top scorer in their total of 198-7 was Steve Marsden with 51 not out.

Bradford & Bingley moved up to fifth place with a five-wicket win at Bankfoot. Opener James Dunn made an unbeaten 112 containing 19 fours as they past a Bankfoot score of 208 all out. Myles Robinson top scored with 37 for Bankfoot while Steve Dunn (4-48) was the pick of the bowlers.

Bottom team Hartshead Moor picked up a maximum 20 points as they crushed Brighouse by 157 runs. Hartshead Moor made 234-8 thanks to the efforts of Andy Halford (78) and Mark Baldwin (71). Brighouse were dismissed for just 77 as Dannny Barlow took an impressive six for 14.

There was a tight finish at Great Horton where the home side edged out Morley by two wickets. Zabir Ashraf (34) helped his side to counter the bowling of Eddie Ream (4-38) as they edged home. Earlier Tom Medley (51no) and Tom Woolis (38) had top scored in Morley's innings of 150-8. Shabbir Ellahi was the pick of Great Horton's bowlers with three for 26.