Sovereign Health care Priestley Cup Round 3 review 2006

Posted: June 19th

Current league leaders Woodlands will play second in the table Pudsey Congs in the semi-finals of the Priestley Cup after both completed wins on Monday in the quarter finals. Woodlands bowled out East Bierley to win by 17 runs, whilst Pudsey Congs chased down local rivals Pudsey St Lawrence's 272-8 for the loss of six wickets.

In the other quarter final game carried over to Monday, Hanging Heaton beat Mannigham Mills by five wickets to set up a semi-final against Division Two's Bowling Old Lane.

Bowling Old Lane were the first team to clinch a place in the semi-finals of the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup. They defeated fellow Second Division team Spen Victoria by six runs in a late-night thriller.

The match, delayed by rain, finished at 9.30pm and Old Lane are now just one match away from a possible first final appearance since 1968.

Imran Mirza was the man who did most to seal their success. He made 52 and made sure that they reached 162 for nine in their 50 overs. Overseas player Priyankara Silva was the pick of the bowlers with three for 33.

Spen's innings was built around a battling 60 from Chris Elstub, but in the gathering gloom, Spen were dismissed for 156. Last man James Russell being trapped lbw with 14 balls to go.

They play Hanging Heaton, who lost five wickets in overhauling a challenging Manningham Mills score of 230 all out.

Amar Rashid led the way with eight fours in a good knock of 51, while Adal Islam 938), Afsar Nawaz (31) and Shezad Islam (30) chipped in with valuable runs. Chris Schofield (3-29) was the most successful Hanging Heaton bowler.

Zac Morris (62no) and Alan Mynett (43no) put on 92 unbeaten runs for the sixth wicket to guide Hanging Heaton into the semi-finals.

Gary Fellows

The two big ties Pudsey St Lawrence v Pudsey Congs and Woodlands against East Bierley were tantalisingly poised overnight, but Woodlands and Congs emerged victorious.

Gary Fellows, who made a stunning 142 when Pudsey St Lawrence defeated Pudsey Congs in the league last month, followed up with another outstanding innings of 92 as St Lawrence made 273 for eight. James Smith weighed in with 41.

Congs were 74 for two after 17 overs when bad light stopped play, but they added the further 200 runs needed when the game resumed on Monday. Andy Bethel (68) and Andy Bairstow (54) both made half centuries to lead the Congs assualt on the target, and Glenn Roberts (44no) was there at the end to seal the victory.

The clash between champions Woodlands and East Bierley was even more finely balanced. Woodlands batted first and were dismissed for 115, but hit back strongly to reduce East Bierley to 55 for five after 23 overs at the end of play on Sunday. Pieter Swanepoel(23no) and Nicky Rushworth (18) were the top sc

orers for Woodlands on a pitch which provided bounce and movement for the quicker bowlers. Greg Lambert (3-24), Kez Ahmed (3-27) and Paul Hutchinson (2-35) all bowled well.

Safraz Ahmed

When East Bierley replied they soon discovered how tough runscoring would be. John Proud was dismissed third ball by Safraz Ahmed, pictured right,who followed up by removing Richard Gould - also without scoring - after he had faced 26 balls. Grant Soames (17), Thomas Owens (14) and Ryan Bradshaw were also dismissed as Woodlands hit back hard.

When resuming on Monday, Woodlands managed to close out the victory by taking the last five Bierley wickets for the addition of 43 runs to Bierley's overnight score. Kez Ahmed (28) and Jaffer Nazir (19) at one point could have won the game for Bierley, but Woodlands showed why they are the team at the top at the moment by dismissing both and then cleaning up the tail.

Richard Pyrah (3-36) and Safraz Ahmed (2-12) were the main wicket takers that brought about Woodlands victory.