Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup semi-final 2006

Pyrah sparkles as Woodlands reach fourth successive final

Posted July 9, 2006

Yorkshire all-rounder Richard Pyrah made an unbeaten 58 as champions Woodlands reached their fourth successive Sovereign HealthCare Priestley Cup final by beating holders Pudsey Congs by six-wickets.

Pyrah struck a six and nine fours in a delightful innings which ensured that Woodlands gained revenge for the defeats they suffered at the hands of Congs in the past two finals. It followed an impressive bowling performance which saw him take two for 17 in ten accurate overs.

The result ended Congs' bid to equal East Bierley record of three successive Priestley Cup triumphs between 1998 and 2000 and enabled Woodlands to reach their fourth successive final - to equal the record set by East Bierley (1997-2000).

The key to their success was their positive batting. In past cup battles between the sides the Congs bowlers have tied them down, but this time Woodlands refused to allow the visiting attack to settle.

Woodlands shrugged off the early loss of Scott Richardson and Russell Murray as they opted to go for their shots and they clinched their win by passing Congs' score of 180 for nine with 6.1 overs to spare.

Pyrah and Nicky Rushworth underlined their side's desire to dominate as they attacked Essex offspinner James Middlebrook when he came into the attack. His 8.5 overs cost him 55 runs and he failed to take a wicket.

Andrew Bairstow made 62

And when Rushworth departed for 25, skipper Tim Orrell joined Pyrah in a match- partnership of 72.

Orrell made a forceful 41 before being trapped lbw by left arm spinner Glenn Roberts. When he departed Adam Goldthorpe helped the impressive Pyrah put the seal on a fine win.

Pudsey Congs had found runs hard to come by when they batted first. They slumped to 20 for three before Andrew Bairstow sparked a recovery with a 49-ball half-century which included a six and eight fours. He was eventually dismissed by left arm spinner Chris Brice for 62.

Skipper Matthew Doidge built on Bairstow's work with a knock of 52, but the eventual total of 180 for nine was to prove insufficient.

Pieter Swanepoel (4-26), Richard Pyrah (2-17), Brice (1-35) and Safraz Ahmed (1-38) all bowled admirably.

In the other semi-final, Hanging Heaton are well placed to defeat giant-killers Bowling Old Lane. They will resume on 105 for four with 36 overs in which to pass Bowling old Lane's score of 213 all out in a match which was disrupted by rain during the first innings.