St Lawrence go top after claimning a 20 point maximum

Posted April 22, 2006

Pudsey St Lawrence powered to the top of Division One as they became the first side to record a 20 point maximum in their 129-run win over Morley.

Teenage batsman Mark Robertshaw and former Yorkshire player Gary Fellows were their star performers. Robertshaw stroked his way to an unbeaten 114, while Fellows took five for 15 in an impressive 12 over stint as Morley were dismissed for 169 in reply to St Lawrence's total of 298 for four.

Left-hander Robertshaw struck three sixes and 11 fours and was joined in a second-wicket partnership of 137 by Alex Stead who hit three sixes and ten fours in his 79. With James Smith (45) and Gareth Clough (32no) weighing in with valuable contributions there was no respite for the toiling Morley bowlers.

Morley were soon in trouble when they replied. They slid to 36 for four and then 73 for seven, before skipper David Nebard gave his side a boost with a defiant innings of 68. He was ably supported by Steve Lane (38) in an eighth-wicket stand of 80. Their efforts at least earned Morley a batting point and reduced the margin of defeat.

St Lawrence head the table by five points from Brighouse who made it two wins from two games when they defeated fellow Division One new boys Keighley by eight wickets. Former Bankfoot skipper Gary Wainwright continued his fine form by making an unbeaten 66 to steer his side home to an easy triumph after they had bowled out last season's Division Two champions for 92.

Skipper James Stansfield struck three decisive early blows as he took three for 37. His haul of wickets included dismissing the prolific Richard Robinson - a former Brighouse player - for a duck. Mark Gilliver (3-12) also chipped in with valuable wickets.

Keighley's total wasn't the lowest of the day. That dubious distinction went to Bradford & Bingley who were skittled out for 52 by Woodlands who were again without their overseas bowler Safraz Ahmed. Yorkshire all-rounder Richard Pyrah is certainly proving a more than adequate new ball deputy. He followed up his seven wickets against Hanging Heaton on the opening day with six for 29. His haul of 13 wickets so far is certainly impressive. Pieter Swanepoel (4-21) was also in fine form. Bradford & Bingley's top scorer was number nine Wajahat Ali who made 20 not out.

Woodlands lost three wickets in reply but eased to their target with an incredible 58.5 overs to spare after dismissing Bradford & Bingley in just 22 and knocking off the runs in 19.1overs.

East Bierley moved into third position in the table as they defeated Farsley by three wickets. Kez Ahmed, who has returned to the club after spells with Spen Victoria and Cleckheaton, found conditions to his liking and took five for 29 in 15 overs as Farsley were dismissed for 125.

Opener Steve Simpson (39) was the pick of the Farsley batsmen, but after his departure the innings petered out as Ahmed and off spinner Grant Soames (3-16) went to work.

East Bierley had problems of their own when they batted. At one point they stumbled to 52 for five before new wicketkeeper/batsman Ryan Bradshaw from Harrogate steadied their nerves and steered them home with an unbeaten 43.

Pudsey Congs maintained their winning start with a seven-wicket success at Saltaire. Openers Scott Cunningham (44) and Andy Bethel (38) shared a stand of 78 which set them on course to overhaul Saltaire's modest total of 154 for five in which new recruit Gulsheraz Ahmed from Idle hit an unbeaten 45.

Baildon's new skipper Ian Philliskirk made an impressive 122 not out as his side defeated Hanging Heaton by 94 runs. Eight sixes and six fours flowed from the left-hander's bat as Baildon posted a score of 227 for five. There was also a good contribution of 47 from new Zimbabwean opener Colin De Grandhomme.

Hanging Heaton soon hit trouble in reply.They plunged to 19 for four and never really recovered despite the efforts of skipper Alan Mynett who made 56. Leg spinner Jamie Abbott, promoted from the second team, took four for 27 as Hanging Heaton were dismissed for 133.

There's something about playing Cleckheaton that brings the best out of Idle's Sri Lankan all-rounder Dinusha Fernando. Last season he took ten for 25 against John Wood's men and he was at it again as he made 42 and followed up with four for 28 as Idle registered their first win of the campaign.

Fernando's runs helped Idle to post a total of 144 for eight which proved too good for Cleckheaton who were dismissed for 110. Greg Colehan (3-32) gave good support to Fernando.

There were two thrilling last over wins in the opening round of matches in Division Two. Spen Victoria defeated Bowling Old Lane by one wicket off the final ball of the game, while Manningham Mills edged home by a similar margin against Esholt with one ball to spare.

Old Lane must have fancied their chances as Mohammed Hanif (4-30) reduced Spen to 84 for eight in reply to their score of 119 for eight. Only some lusty blows by tail-ender Richard Marsden (25no) saw Spen home.

Old Lane had been kept in check earlier by some accurate bowling from Chris Elstub (3-12) and James Russell (3-21) before Amjad Khan (40no) gave Old Lane a lift.

Nassar Jamal was the match-winner for Manningham Mills as they passed Esholt's 195 for eight from the fifth ball of the final over. Jamal, who took five for 51 in the Esholt innings, followed up with a fine knock of 49 which gave his side the impetus to win the game. Nadeem Hanif had earlier provided the fireworks in the Esholt innings with six sixes and six four in a knock of 81.

Bankfoot are the early leaders after bagging 17 points from a 132-run win over Windhill. Former Yorkshire batsman Neil Nicholson made 62 and Simon Curry (48) as Bankfoot were dismissed for 183. Bankfoot's match-winner proved to be seamer Nigel Hanson who marked his return to first team duty by taking seven for 18 as Windhill were dismissed for 51.

Jonathan Wilson made a fine 89 to steer Lightcliffe to a six-wicket success over Yeadon. James Crilly (39) and James Horne (36no) gave him good support. Yeadon's score of 189 for eight owed much to a knock of 71 by former Idle player Steve Lawrence.

Undercliffe's veteran seamer Andy Wilsden bagged four for 37 as they brushed aside Gomersal to win by six wickets. Amer Siddique top scored with 50 in Gomersal's total of 166. Undercliffe eased home with new boy David Taylor making 52 not out and skipper Craig Hunt (39).

Great Horton's overseas player Rizwan Akbar took four for 27 as he helped his side to defeat Hartshead moor by eight wickets. Hartshead Moor were dismissed for 91 and Great Horton eased home with openers Aftab Ahmed and Ziafat Ashraf each making 38.