JCT 600 Bradford League Second teams review

Posted: May 28, 2007

With leaders Farsley having their game at Esholt abandoned after just 11 overs, Lightcliffe seized their chance to pull level at the top of the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One.

Lightcliffe defeated Bowling Old Lane by 65 runs and the foundation for their win was laid by their second-wicket pair of Steve Hartley (90) and Gareth Stevens (51) who added 141 as Lightcliffe went on to make 192 all out. Talat Sajawal (5-40) and Adil Mir (4-66) bowled well for Old Lane.

Old Lane's reply was disappointing and they were dismissed for 127 - a score which would have been far less if Saeed Afsar hadn't produced a late onslaught which saw him hit a rapid 63. Richard Tesseyman (4-33) and Alex Tait (4-44) were the pick of the bowlers.

Third-placed East Bierley had to settle for nine points in their rain interrupted match with Yeadon. Matthew Anderson (34), Arron Brook (33) and James Petty (31) guided east Bierley to 201-7 in 47 overs, but Yeadon only faced 33 in reply at which point they were in trouble at 104-7.

Champions Woodlands lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with an eight-wicket triumph over Keighley. Skipper Phil Walker took four for eight as Keighley were dismissed for 147 despite the efforts of Alan Broadley (61) and Allan Birkett (35).

Woodlands cruised to their target with Greig Godfrey (61) and Cieran Garner (65not out) leading the way with a second-wicket partnership of 129.

Gomersal, who suffered a five-wicket defeat against Saltaire, are now bottom. Gunisira Ambepitya made an unbeaten 76 as Saltaire overhauled a Gomersal score of 141-7 in which Craig Lightowler made 61 not out.

Pudsey St Lawrence won the derby battle with Pudsey Congs by four wickets. Opener Mark Stringer made 64 to steer St Lawrence to their target. Warren Allit had top scored with 65 when Congs made 162-7.

Baildon continue to slide towards the foot of the table. They suffered an 18-run defeat against Hanging Heaton. Baildon might have fancied their chances when Abid Jahangir (4-29) helped bowl out Hanging Heaton for 115, but their batting failed too. Only Chris Curtis (35) showed much resistance as Umar Rehman took four for 27.

Manningham Mills are the new leaders of Division Two after their 81-run win over Undercliffe. The victory earned them 19 points and enabled them to climb above Cleckheaton and Spen Victoria in the table.

Qasim Shafiq hit five sixes and ten fours in a forceful innings of 134, while Fazal Hussain made 63 in a Mills total of 231-8. Sonny Mathuru (41) top scored for Undercliffe who finished on 150-9. Saeed Ahmed finished with five for 52.

Cleckheaton skittled out Morley for 46 on their way to an eight-wicket win. Chris Ignatowski (3-9) and Matthew West (3-12) were the chief destroyers of the Morley innings. Dean Worrell made 33 not out to speed Cleckheaton to their victory.

Spen Victoria were involved in the season's first tie at Great Horton. Chasing 133 to win they reached 107 for one before dramatic slump saw them need two from the final ball to win. They only managed one so the match was tied. Opener Dave Hester (64) and his dad Chris (43) were the men who put Spen in a good position.

Jamil Akhtar, batting at number eight, had rescued the Great Horton innings with a forceful 55 after 15-year-old seam bowler Robert Warriner had taken five for 33.

After a couple of setbacks Idle returned to winning ways as they defeated Bankfoot by ten wickets. Paul Howker (4-24), Gareth Teasdale (3-18) and Neil Johnson (3-13) bowled out Bankfoot for 102. Openers Mick Birts (53not out) and Gavin Lyons (41not out) steered Idle home.

Old warhorse Dave Pearce produced an outstanding all-round performance as Windhill cantered to a five-wicket win over Hartshead Moor.

Pearce claimed four for 14 as Hartshead moor were restricted to 147-8, then hit an unbeaten 71 to sped his side to victory. Pearce reached his half-century off 29 balls and in his full innings smashed six sixes and seven fours.

Bradford & Bingley recorded their second win of the weekend when they defeated Brighouse by eight wickets. Michael Clarke made an unbeaten 61 after they had bowled out Brighouse for 104 with Peter Clarke taking three for 41 and David Etherington (3-22)