Posted April 29, 2006

Mark Bray took six for 20 to set Pudsey Congs on course for a five-wicket win over East Bierley in Division One's game of the day. Bray's fine bowling meant that previously unbeaten East Bierley were dismissed for 124.

Bierley's case wasn't helped by the absence of Richard Gould and Grant Soames who were attending team-mate Robert Ellis's wedding. It meant they had to draft in three second team players for their toughest game to date.

Skipper Gavin Hamilton, back on the ground where he started his Bradford League career with Congs, tried hard to hold the innings together with a battling 77, but only John Proud (20) of the remaining batsmen made double figures.

Congs had early problems against the opening attack of Jaffer Nazir and Paul Hutchison, but recovered from 28 for two with Andrew Bairstow (38no) to secure what could be a significant win as the season unfolds.

Like Congs, leaders Pudsey St Lawrence and champions Woodlands also made it three wins our of three. St Lawrence's batsmen again piled up the runs making 289 for five then new Australian bowler James Pearson took five for 61 as they defeated lowly Cleckheaton by 69 runs.

Last week's centurion Mark Robertshaw failed to score on this occasion but Gary Fellows (84no), Alex Stead (67) and Mark Whitehead (49) made sure that maximum batting points were achieved. Fellows hit three sixes and nine fours while Stead stroked eight boundaries.

Cleckheaton's new overseas batsman Kurram Shehzad (89) and skipper John Wood (70) put up a brave fight and gave some encouragement to a side that has now lost all three of its matches. Shehzad, who was a prolific scorer for Hartshead Moor in Division Two last season, laced his innings with two sixes and eight fours. Wood struck a ten fours.

Scott Richardson marked his return to Baildon for the first time since his close season move to Woodlands by hitting a half-century to help the champions to a comfortable 78-run success.

Richardson shared in an opening stand of 98 with Russell Murray (49), but after they were parted only Adam Goldthorpe (34) made a significant contribution as spinner Mushtaq Ahmed took three for 38.

Woodlands' score of 208 for eight proved too stiff a challenge for Baildon. They stumbled to 125 all out with only the Bradford League's White Rose skipper David Clow (41) showing ant resistance.

With overseas star Safraz Ahmed back Woodlands relegated Richard Pyrah - 13 wickets in his first two games - to first change. It didn't stop him picking up another two wickets on an afternoon when Pieter Swanepoel was the main wicket taker with three for 29.

Brighouse's unbeaten run came to an end as they suffered a 48-run defeat against Saltaire. Opener Wasim Munawar (76) was top scorer for Saltaire as they made 223 for nine despite the efforts of Robin Hill (5-71) and Martin Hanson (3-24).

Brighouse made a poor start in reply and despite another good innings from their overseas star Rizwan Ahmed (63no), Brighouse were restricted to 175 for seven. Mansa Khan was the pick of the Saltaire bowlers with three for 48.

Idle moved into fifth place on the back of their second successive win. Their two new bowlers Paul Cummins (4-17) and Andy Marshall (3-35) dismissed bottom team Keighley for 112. Opener Harvey Anderson then hit 45 as they cruised to an eight-wicket success.

Hanging Heaton and Farsley were both celebrating their first wins. Hanging Heaton defeated Bradford & Bingley by 95 runs while Farsley squeezed home by 18 runs against Morley.

Teenager Farhan Khan (69) hit his maiden Bradford League half-century for Hanging Heaton and shared a fifth-wicket stand of 113 with skipper Alan Mynett (60). Khan hit four sixes and eight fours and his aggression brought about the late impetus which took his side to a challenging score of 239 for eight.

Only Craig Cockshott (61) and Chris Wheeler (48no) looked comfortable as Bradford & Bingley's batsmen struggled against the bowling of Umar Rehman (5-41) and Ranjit Don (4-18) as they were restricted to 144 for nine.

Farsley's win was engineered by overseas player Vineet Sharma. The opening bowler took seven for 32 as Morley were bowled out for 169 in reply to the home side's score of 187 for nine.

Morley looked to be well out of contention when they plunged to 72 for eight, but Eddie Galek and Nathan Bromby didn't think so. Galek struck ten boundaries in a fine knock of 71 while Bromby chipped in with an unbeaten 47 in a ninth-wicket stand of 92 which seriously worried Farsley.

Farsley's innings had seen useful contributions from Shabbir Rashid (39), Ashley Metcalfe (36) and Matthew Green (31) while Richard Winn bowled well to take five for 38 for Morley.

There was plenty of excitement in Division Two where Manningham Mills took a maximum 20 points to go top, Undercliffe piled up a season's best score of 322 for six against Bankfoot, and there were centuries for Undercliffe's David Taylor and Esholt skipper Richard Whitehurst.

Manningham Mills proved too good for Yeadon. They made 253 with Nasser Jamal blasting six sixes and eight four in an aggressive knock of 69. Amer Sajad (4-52) was the best Yeadon bowler and he followed up with 52 when his side were dismissed for 185 in reply. Sajad shared in a second-wicket stand of 103 with James Todd but they couldn't save their side from a 68-run win.

New recruit David Taylor is proving a shrew signing. He made made a splendid 104 which contained four sixes and 13 fours as Undercliffe hammered Bankfoot's bowlers to all corners of the ground. Taylor was joined in a second-wicket stand of 114 with skipper Craig Hunt who made a typically robust 91 against his old club in which he hit four sixes and ten fours.

If Bankfoot thought the run rate would slacken when Taylor and Hunt departed they were mistaken. Overseas player Arun Lal weighed in with a rapid 67 not out. Bankfoot were never in the hunt when they replied and limped to 145 for eight. Michael Nicholson top scored with 44 while off spinner ben Heritage (4-42) was the pick of the Undercliffe bowlers.

Like Manningham Mills and Undercliffe, Great Horton and Spen Victoria also made it two wins out of two. All rounder Mohammed Sharafat was Great Horton's match-winner making 65 as they were bowled out for 182 and following up with three for 23 as Lightcliffe were dismissed for 118 despite 48 from opener Michael Brooke.

An opening stand of 109 between Phil Carter (58) and Matthew Taylor (45) set Spen Victoria on their way to a 69-run success at Hartshead Moor. Their efforts laid the foundations for a total of 196 for five which Hartshead Moor never looked like matching.

Once again the Spen seamers were among the wickets. This time the key bowler was Chris Hester (4-47) who was well supported by Chris Elstub (3-20).

The top individual score of the day was made by Esholt skipper Richard Whitehurst. He hit 133 against Gomersal with six sixes and 13 fours. Whitehurst shared an opening stand of 124 with Khalid Mahmood (42).

That was followed by a second-wicket partnership of 89 with James Soulsby who stroked his way to 70 as Esholt made 285 for nine to ensure maximum batting points despite the efforts of Craig Woodhead (5-69).

Gomersal made 226 for seven in reply with skipper Rob Burton (44), Adam Stott (42) and Malintha Thotiwiage (39) being their main contributors.

Bowling Old Lane were the second team in the division to secure maximum points. They made 276 against Windhill with former Farsley batsman Nahim Ashraf hitting 71 and Imran Mirza (46no).Windhill were dismissed for 99 in reply as Mohammed Hanif claimed five for 16.