The watery view from the pavilion

Looks like a wet wicket

The stream which overflowed

Nice weather for ducks

Esholt's ground has been flooded for only the second time in its 85 year history. Today's torrential rain resulted in a stream which feeds the River Aire overflowing and swamping the outfield.

In places the water was three feet deep and club secretary David Young - the JCT 600 Bradford League treasurer - had to wade through the water to take these dramatic pictures of the scene.

Young said: "Thankfully it didn't penetrate the tackle shed or the pavilion, but it is a pretty depressing scene right now.

"This is the first time the ground has been flooded in summer. On the previous occasion it waswinter and so bad that the water level rose to halfway up the scorebox."

Esholt now face a major mopping up operation ahead of Saturday's JCT 600 Bradford League Division Two clash with Hartshead Moor.

Young added: "The outfield was already boggy at one end from last week's rain and we had to have part of it roped off at the weekend when our second team played Lightcliffe.

"Once the rain stops the water level will subside rapidly, but we desperately need some dry weather to help us to get the ground back into shape for Saturday."

Today's torrential rain prevented Saltaire's second team from completing their Crowther Cup tie at Skelmanthorpe which was halted on Sunday evening with 29 overs still to be bowled. The sides will try again tomorrow.