JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams review May 3. 2008

Esholt set the pace after comfortable victory

Posted: May 4, 2008

Esholt are the early leaders of the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One after beating Pudsey Congs by 87 runs to record their second successive win.

With 39 points out of a possible 40 they are seven points ahead of defending champions East Bierley - the only other team to win both their opening matches.

Esholt owed their latest success to a solid team performance. Veteran Tony Brassington (40) and Masaver Massidique led them to a total of 200-7 despite the efforts of Callum Oliver (4-34).

Congs found runs hard to come by and only Paul Eachus (41) made an impact as Congs were dismissed for 113.

East Bierley skipper Matthew Anderson took six for 11 to earn his side a 68-run win over Farsley. Steve Cockshott (40) was top scorer for Farsley as they were dismissed for 96 in reply to an east Bierley score of 164. Leigh Abbott stroked a fine 51 while Paul Ellis chipped in with a brisk 45.

A patient innings of 53 not out by opener Mohammad Abbas helped Baildon to defeat Pudsey St Lawrence by two wickets. His efforts ensured that Baildon squeezed home despite superb spell of leg spin bowling from teenager Adam Hopkins who took four for 11 in 15 overs, St Lawrence had been bowled out for 132 when they batted first with Cameron Roy (45) top scoring as Joe Lonsdale (6-28) bowled well for Baildon.

Woodlands bounced back from their hammering by East Bierley by handing out a 140-run defeat to Keighley. They racked up the season's best score of 273-4 with skipper Phil Walker (114no) getting the first century of the campaign. Walker hit five sixes and nine fours and was well supported by Robert Medcalf who smashed 97 off 77 balls with seven sixes and seven fours. Keighley were dismissed for 133 as Michael Pearson took three for 15.

Newly-promoted Spen Victoria suffered their second defeat as they went down by two-wickets to Hanging Heaton. Amar Hussain (34) and skipper Mark Loker (27) were the main contributors to a modest Spen score of 134. Hanging Heaton looked to be cruising to an easy win when openers Robert Smith (34) and Howard Ellis (32) shared a first-wicket partnership of 73, but once they were parted wickets tumbled and Hanging Heaton found themselves struggling to reach their goal.

Lightcliffe bowlers Tom Powe (3-28) and Roger Stead (3-21) restricted Bowling Old Lane to 128-9 as they helped their side to a six-wicket win. Rigakat Younis battled hard fro his unbeaten 57 for Old lane but he couldn't spare them from defeat.

The match between Yeadon and Cleckheaton became the first to be abandoned this season.

Morley are a side who seem to be specialising in tight finishes. They lost their opening game against Manningham Mills by one wicket and bounced back to win their second by four runs. Gavin Goodlad (36) and 12-year-old Jack Seddon (22no) helped them to post a modest score of 118 on a pitch which suited the bowlers. Shane Marshall took four for 27 for Idle. When Idle batted they struggled against the bowling of Eddie Ream (6-48) and Richard Winn (3-7). Opener Luke Heinemann (46) was the only batsman to make an impression.

Manningham Mills, 26-run winners over Saltaire, top the table. Adnam Mahmood blasted a superb 89not out as Mills made 213-6 before restricting Saltaire to 177-7 with Adam Butt hitting 48. Zafar Memhmood (5-25) was Mills' best bowler.

Undercliffe are a point behind Mills following their three-wicket victory over Windhill. Liam Brearley (44no) and Amir Ditta (39) helped Undercliffe to overhaul Windhill's score of 170-7 with five balls to spare. The top scorer for Windhill was Peter Nicholls with 86 as veteran Andy Wilsdon took six for 38 for Undercliffe.

Bradford & Bingley made it two wins from two starts with a two-wicket win over Hartshead Moor. Steven Dunn (3-10) and Adam Swallow (3-30) helped dismiss Hartshead Moor for 111, then skipper Peter Clarke made 39 as Bradford & Bingley scraped home. Jeff Wind took four for 23.

Spinner Royston Light took five for 15 to set up Brighouse's three-wicket victory over Great Horton. Light's fine bowling helped Great Horton send Great Horton crashing to 101 all out despite an unbeaten 51 from Wahid Iqbal. Brighouse got to their victory target with Jamie Thrush making 32 and Light (27no).

Gomersal recorded their first win as they defeated the ten men of Bankfoot by five wickets. Matthew Hirst took three for eight as Bankfoot were skittled out for 85. Gomersal had a few scares but secured their win with Jonathon Boynton top scoring 22.