Posted June 24, 2006

 

Champions Woodlands underlined their desire to retain the SDS Bradford League Division One crown with a crushing 106-run win over fourth-placed East Bierley .

Woodlands looked to be in trouble when they were bowled out for 185, but they hit back in the style of true champions to dismiss their opponents for 79.

Yorkshire all-rounder Richard Pyrah was again their star performer with the ball taking four for 26, while left arm spinner Chris Brice took three for 14.

Thomas Owens (28) and Ryan Bradshaw (13) were the only East Bierley batsmen to reach double figures.

Former Yorkshire left arm opening bowler Paul Hutchinson (4-47) had been the most successful East Bierley bowlers as Woodlands struggled after opting to bat first. Greg Lambert (3-40) gave good support as the Woodlands batsmen struggled on a wicket of uneven pace and bounce.

Opener Scott Richardson (29) proved to be the top scorer on either side on a day when the ball dominated the bat.

The result means Woodlands are eight points clear of Pudsey Congs who had a seven-wicket win at Brighouse. Andy Bethel (69no) and Babar Butt (40no) steering them past the Brighouse total of 168 for eight.

James Stansfield (38no) and Haroon Rashid (32) were the only Brighouse batsmen to make an impression on an accurate Congs attack in which left arm spinner Glenn Roberts took three for 41.

There were runs galore at Cleckheaton where the home side suffered an 11 run defeat against Baildon. The visitors made 301 for nine with but such a huge score didn't look remotely possible when both Baildon openers were dismissed with only six runs on the board

Skipper Ian Philliskirk (51) and David Clow (44) started the revival and their good work was continued by Phil Slater (370 and Matthew Duce (34) before Tom Atkinson launched a blistering late onslaught. He hit an unbeaten 70 which contained three sixes and five fours. Craig Thornton was the best of the Cleckheaton bowlers with four for 59 against his old club.

Cleckheaton made a spirited reply but finished on 290 for seven despite the efforts of Ian Nicholson (90) and Mark Gill (70). Spinners Mushtaq Ahmed (3-31) and David Clow (3-78) were the most successful bowlers.

Third-placed Pudsey St Lawrence proved too good for struggling Farsley. They made 237 for seven batting first with teenager Chris Marsden (50) and James Smith (40) leading the way. Former Yorkshire batsman Ashley Metcalfe made 66 and James Petty (43) for Farsley but they were bowled out for 164 to lose by 73 runs. Marsden completed a good all round performance by taking three for 47

Idle's opener Javed Umarji made 102 and Imran Dawood (75) in their abandoned match with Bradford & Bingley. Idle made 260 for seven and their opponents were 134 for three in 35 overs when rain intervened. Craig Cockshott made 76 for Bradford & Bingley.

Umarji's first century for Idle since joining them from Hanging Heaton contained 17 fours and he and Dawood shared a fourth-wicket stand of 175 after Idle had lost their first three wickets for 38.

Ethi Mbhalati (3-62) and Richard McCarthy (3-88) were the pick of the Bradford & Bingley bowlers.

Morley batsman Colin Nuthall made 101 not out as his side made their highest score of the season, 238 for five against Saltaire. Ed Galek (71) and Dave Goodlad (41) also made valuable runs. Nuthall's fine innings contained a six and 16 fours.

Morley's hopes of forcing a victory which would lift them off the bottom of the table were shattered when rain led to the abandonment of the game with Saltaire on 139 for four. Wasim Munawar was the top scorer with 46.

Morley took eight points from the match and are now level with Keighley on points. Hanging Heaton added to last season's Division Two champions' woes, defeating them by 103 runs.

Nick Whitehill (81) and Alan Mynett (60) helped Hanging Heaton to make 273 for seven. Keighley were restricted to 170 for eight in reply despite 54 from Australian Rob Bartlett and an unbeaten 44 from Ross Towler.

Manningham Mills returned to the top of Division Two after collecting 20 points from a 137-run win over Gomersal.

Amar Rashid, who has forced his way into the Bradford League representative side this season, hit an unbeaten 109 which contained three sixes and ten fours as Mills piled up 287 for four.

Rashid was well supported by Adil Islam (74) and Afsar Nawaz (48) as runs flowed fare too easily for Gomersal's liking.

Gomersal were dismissed for 118 as Nasser Jamal ripped through their batting with a burst of six for 39. Sri Lankan Malintha Thotiwilage was the only batsman to look at ease as he made 61.

Mills lead the table by nine points from Esholt whose hopes of keeping a hold on the leadership were thwarted by the weather. Their match with Yeadon was poised for an exciting climax when the rain intervened.

Yeadon were 207 for seven at the time needing a further 22 in nine overs to win. Saif Malik (82no) was the man who put Yeadon in such a good position as they replied to an Esholt total of 228 for nine.

Skipper Richard Whitehurst (58) and Baz King were again the main contributors while Steve Lawrence was the pick of the Yeadon bowlers with four for 34.

Sovereign Health Care Priestely Cup semi-finalists Bowling Old Lane kept up their promotion push with a nine-wicket win over Bankfoot. Malik Aftab took a stunning seven for 26 and Zubair Najeeb (3-29) as Bankfoot were skittled out for 58. Old Lane's openers knocked off the runs in 7.2 overs.

Spen Victoria have climbed up to fourth place after inflicting a third successive defeat on one-time leaders Great Horton.

Chris Elstub hit five sixes and five fours in a fine knock of 70 as Spen made 201 for four. There were also good contributions from Phil Carter (42) and skipper Matt Taylor (32). Great Horton were dismissed for 170 with only Abid Alishan (39) making real headway against the Spen attack. Sri Lankan Pryankankara Silva returned his best figures for Spen of four for 39.

Undercliffe's victory push against Windhill was halted by the rain. They were 153 for five in 36 overs in reply to Windhill's 174 all out when play was abandoned. James Clarke (48) and David Taylor (36) had put Undercliffe into a strong position.

Windhill's total owed much to 36 from opener Leon Harber and to a last wicket stand of 47 between Ryan Holdsworth (25) and Paul Wiseman (21). Veteran Andy Wilsdon was the pick oif the Undercliffe bowlers with four for 48. Arun Lal took three for 45.

Hartshead Moor look to have unearthed another good overseas player. Shoaib Khan continued his good form in their abandoned game with Lightcliffe. Khan took four for 32 as Lightcliffe were bowled out for 209, and followed up with an unbeaten 84 as Hartshead Moor reached 146 for seven in reply before rain halted play.

Jonathan Wilson (57) was again in good form for Lightcliffe, and he was well supported by Rob Hinch (52).