Old Lane and Lightcliffe claim Division One scalps

Posted May 1, 2006

Bowling Old Lane followed Lightcliffe's example to become the second side from Division Two to knockout Division One opposition when the outstanding first round ties were completed today.

Just 24 hours after Lightcliffe had defeated Bradford & Bingley by eight wickets, Bowling Old Lane snatched a thrilling one-wicket triumph with two balls to spare.

Malik Aftab (57), Mohammed Hanif (50) and Raqib Younis (50no) all made crucial contributions as Old Lane overhauled a Farsley score of 213 all out. Aftab and Hanif launched the innings with an opening stand of 92, but then wickets tumbled and it needed an aggressive 25 ball half-century from Younis to see them home. He hit five sixes and two fours.

Skipper Ashley Metcalfe fought hard in a vain attempt to save his side from defeat. He top scored with 81 and then followed up by taking two for 11 in ten excellent overs of off spin. Old Lane will now be at home to Idle in the next round.

Australian Anthony Crilly was the toast of his Lightcliffe team-mates as he helped the Division Two side to defeat Division One rivals Bradford & Bingley by eight-wickets. Lightcliffe now face an away tie against fellow Second Division opponents Spen Victoria in the second round.

Crilly first made his impact on the match by taking three for 38 as Bradford & Bingley were restricted to 164 for seven despite a typically determined innings of 65 from skipper Carl Sharp. New boy Scott Etherington made 30 but nobody else made an impact.

Lightcliffe had little trouble knocking off the runs. They cruised to their target in 39.3 overs with Crilly hitting a six and seven fours in an unbeaten 54, while opener Michael Brooke hit four boundaries in a patient knock of 53not out. The two Lightcliffe batsmen shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 97.

Richard Gould made a sparkling 149 as East Bierley defeated Cleckheaton by 77 runs in the top tiie of the round. Gould struck four sixes and 20 fours and shared an opening stand of 148 with John Proud (62) which provided the foundations for a total of 317 for four.

Adam Patel made 76 for Cleckheaton

Cleckheaton lost two wickets for 19 but recovered brilliantly as Khurran Shehzad (82)) and Adam Patel (76) batted superbly in a third wicket stand of 166. Unfortunately for Cleckheaton the innings disintegrated once Shehzad was run out and Patel caught in quick succession. Cleckheaton were eventually al out for 240 as Greg Lambert took three for 56. Bierley now face a home clash against in form Division Two side Great Horton.

Murphy Walwyn, the man who has made a record 11 final appearances, was in top form as he helped league champions Woodlands see off determined Esholt by 50 runs to secure a second round home tie against Saltaire.

Walwyn made top score of 73 as Woodlands built a score of 252 for seven. He hit four sixes and ten fours to show that in the cup he is a man to be feared. Opener Russell Murray (62) and Pieter Swanepoel (51no) also contributed half-centuries. Ben Lister (3-52) was the pick of the Esholt bowlers.

Faced by a daunting target, Esholt didn't crumble and submit tamely. Skipper Richard Whitehurst (55) saw to that with a 46-ball half-century which contained two sixes and eight fours. He dominated an opening stand of 76 with Khalid Mahmood (43).

Unfortunately for Esholt they subsided 161 for eight before wicketkeeper Adrian Taylor made a spirited 48 to greatly reduce the margin of defeat. Left arm spinner Chris Brice was the most successful bowler with four for 33.

Manningham Mills and Undercliffe, the two favourites to win promotion to Division One, fought out a great cup tie. Mills finally winning by just four runs with five balls to spare. Ben Heritage (59), David Taylor (45) and John Barton (40) made a bold bid to push Undercliffe past Manningham Mills' score of 252 for eight, but they were just pipped at the post.

Amar Rashid and Mahboob Hussain were the match-winners for Mills. Rashid strucka six and 18 fours in a fine innings of 123, while Hussain took four for 46 to keep Undercliffe in check. Mills will visit Windhill in the next round.

Baildon proved too good for Division Two side Bankfoot as they romped to a ten wicket win. Opener Simon Curry (53) and Nigel Hanson (32) battled hard but couldn't prevent their side being dismissed for a modest total of 145. Imran Amin was the pick of the bowlers with three for 20.

Baildon breezed to their victory target in 16.2 overs with openers Simon Davies (85no) and Colin De Grandhomme (45no) dominating the Bankfoot bowling. Davies was particular severe on the bowlers as he hit a six and 17 fours.

The reward for Baildon is a home encounter with the holders Pudsey Congs in the second round. Congs clinched their place in the last 16 with a 37-run victory over Morley.

Skipper Matthew Doidge (58) and Glenn Roberts (44) steered Congs away from potential trouble at 68 for four towards a final total of 217 for seven. Morley were never in with a serious chance of winning they replied but Michael Cooper (39) and Nathan Bromby (36no) ensured they went down fighting. Mark Bray continuied his good form with three for 18.

Division One leaders Pudsey St Lawrence proved too strong for Division Two outfit Hartshead Moor. St Lawrence's batsmen continued their great early season form by piling up a score of 322 for six. James Smith (90), Alex Stead (65) and Ian Priestley (40no) were the main contributors. Hartshead Moor were dismissed for 124 to lose by 198 runs. St Lawrence skipper Andrew Doidge took six for 29 with his off spin.

St Lawrence will be at home to Brighouse in the second round. The newly-promoted outfit defeated Gomersal by eight wickets. Experienced opener Mark Gilliver (96no) and Haroon Rashid (69no) shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 154 as Brighouse breezed past Gomersal's score of 232 for eight. Wicketkeeper Matt Garside (54no) and Malintha Thotiwiage (44) were the top scorers.

Spen Victoria made their highest score of the season, 266 for nine, as they defeated battling Yeadon by 64 runs. Sam Anderson (53), Chris Elstub (44), Phil Carter (40) and Matthew Taylor (37) all chipped in with valuable scores, but the innings of the day was played by Yeadon's new overseas Amir Sajjad.

The former Bankfoot batsman gave a sparkling exhibition of strokeplay in poor light, hitting one six and 13 fours before he was brilliantly caught in the deep by Elstub for 99.