Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup semi-final 2006

Khan takes five wickets as Old Lane triumph

Posted July 10, 2006

Amjid Khan produced the most decisive spell of bowling of his young career to propel Second Division Bowling Old Lane into their first Sovereign Health care Priestley Cup final for 37 years.

Khan took five for 24 in ten excellent overs of seam bowling as the giant-killers defeated Hanging Heaton by 38 runs to claim their third Division One scalp in this season's competition.

It was dramatic stuff, just as it was when they defeated Farsley, Idle and then Spen Victoria to set up the semi-final encounter with Hanging Heaton.

The match seemed evenly poised when Hanging Heaton resumed on 105 for four in reply to Old Lane's total of 213. They had 36 overs in which to score 108.

It only required a scoring rate of three an over, but Hanging Heaton lost wickets steadily and were eventually dismissed for 175.

Perhaps the real damage was done in the gathering gloom last night. Former Yorkshire wicketkeeper Ismail Dawood and Alan Mynett - who were both unable to return tonight - had added 91 brisk runs before Khan made his mark on the match.

He removed Mynett for 19, and after Mohammed Hanif had dismissed Chris Schofield for one, Khan claimed the prized wicket of Dawood who had made 58 and followed up by getting Zac Morris out for a duck too.

Four wickets fell for three runs and those blows had a profound influence on the way the two sides approached the resumption. Old Lane were confident and sensing success, while Hanging Heaton were nervous and uncertain.

Khan continued where he left off by claiming the wickets of two more frontline batsmen, Nick Whitehill and Bandulla Don.

Kamran Siddique (2-5) and Mohammed Hanif (2-21) also chipped in with wickets as Hanging Heaton crumbled to 175 all out.

It was Siddique who triggered Old Lane's celebrations when he clinched the wicket of Farhan Khan.

Yesterday, Old Lane had to show tenacity with the bat to combat some fiery bowling from Thilan Thushara (5-42) and Nick Summerscales (3-25).

With Bandula Don yielding only 17 runs in his ten overs, Old Lane had to work hard for their runs.

They were indebted tp the patient Nahim Ashraf (73) for guiding them to a challenging total of 213. Ashraf's innings contained a six and nine fours.