East Bierley lead the way after batsmen shine

Posted: May 6, 2007

Just like their first team,East Bierley sit proudly on top of the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One after an emphatic 136-run triumph over Esholt.

James Petty (85), skipper Matt Anderson (74) and Arron Brook (61) helped them to a formidable total of 356 for six before Dan Abbott (4-33) and Paul Ellis (3-23) helped dismiss Esholt for 220. The evergreen Tony Brassington made 75 and shared an opening stand of 125 with Jason Wilkinson (62).

Bierley have a ten-point advantage over Baildon who defeated Gomersal by five wickets with four balls to spare. Craig Lightowler (62), Geoff Stothart (46) and Usman Salieem (41) carried Gomersal to a score of 251 for seven, but Baildon overhauled it thanks to 80 not out from skipper james butterfield and 60 from Kieran Morton.

Champions Woodlands and bottom team Yeadon suffered the agony of being on the wrong end of one-wicket defeats. Woodlands were pipped by Pudsey St Lawrence who responded to their total of 282 for six by making 287 for nine with an over to spare. Gareth Duckworth (73) and skipper James Milligan (52) masterminded their side's triumph.

Cieran Garner had continued his good start to the season for Woodlands by making 65, while skipper Phil Walker (57) and Keith Robson (51) chipped in with valuable runs.

Yeadon's one-wicket reverse came against Farsley who reached their target of 208 with one ball remaining. Shabir Rashid made 85 to set exactly the right tempo for Farsley in the face of fine bowling from Paul Machell (6-59).

Yeadon had made 207 all out batting first with Darren Smith hitting 52 and Darren Machell (46). Ultimately the fact they were bowled out in 48.5 overs proved decisive because Farsley got home during the 51st over of their innings.

Pudsey Congs avenged last season's Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield defeat by Bowling Old Lane by gaining a five-wicket win when the sides met again at Old Lane. Teenagers James Lindley-Dawe (60) and Richard Jubb (57) steered Congs home. Old Lane made 198 all out in an innings which fell away once James Bragg (5-55) had parted the openers Rashid Ramzan (50) and Khalid Rehman (40).

Keighley's Robert Hopkinson hit a century as they ended Lightcliffe's unbeaten record by inflicting a 94-run defeat. Hopkinson struck six sixes and eight fours and was supported by Jake Hoyle (43) as a total of 233 for six was posted. Lightcliffe wilted to 139 all out in reply as Hoyle crowned a fine individual performance by taking six for 32.

Newly-promoted Saltaire are still seeking a victory after losing by four-wickets to Hanging Heaton with three balls to go Nobody fought harder for the Saltaire cause than Ginagari Ambepetiya. He made 84 in his side's 214 for seven and took four for 41, but couldn't prevent Hanging Heaton from edging home with Ben Gilbert making 42.

Adil Amjad hit an unbeaten century and shared in an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 146 with ben Tootell (67not out) as Bankfoot ended the unbeaten run of Manningham Mills who started the day as Division Two leaders.

Amjad raced to his fifty off just 18 balls and completed his century off a remarkable 36, hitting eight sixes and eight fours as Mills were powerless to stop him. They must have thought that a score of 233 for eight would have been sufficient, but not with Amjad about. Qasim Shafiq (64) and Kamran Raffique (57) had been the top scorers for Mills.

Another batsman in blistering form was Brighouse's Chris Maloney. He hammered the season's highest individual score of 171 as Brighouse posted a stunning 370 for seven against Great Horton. Maloney struck fours sixes and 28 fours and his efforts helped his side to a 207-run win.

Idle and Spen Victoria are now the only two unbeaten teams and both had crushing ten-wicket victories. Richard Marsden took five for 12 - his second successive five-wicket haul - as Spen bowled out Hartshead Moor for 71. Chris Hester took four for eight and followed up by making 21 not out as he and his 15-year-old son David (44not out) saw Spen to their victory target.

Idle dismissed Windhill for just 81 as Graham Dobson (3-11) and Andrew Cookland (3-19 struck. Bradley Goodaire, Idle's promising teenage opener, then made an undefeated 51 to secure his team's victory.

Undercliffe veteran Andy Wilsdon returned stunning bowling figures but ended up on the losing side. He took seven for four but his side still lost to Cleckheaton by 54 runs. Marcus Walmsley had a fine match for Cleckheaton. He top scored with 37 as Cleckheaton made 152 all out, and followed up by taking six for 25 as Undercliffe were dismissed for 98. Jed Din (34) and Wilsdon (25) were the only batsmen to reach double figures for Undercliffe.

Bradford & Bingley won a thrilling match against Morley by one wicket. Set 255 to win they achieved their goal thanks to half centuries from James Dunne (59), Michael Clarke (56) and Saj Haider (51). Sam Medley (4-60) as the pick of the Morley bowlers.

Teenage batsman Michael Clarke had provided the highlight of Morley's innings. He made 94 off 69 balls with six sixes and six fours before perishing with his century in sight. Richard Slater (4-54) and Danny Trowers (3-64) spearheaded the Bradford & Bingley bowling.