Posted July 29, 2006

 

Third-placed Pudsey St Lawrence must dread playing at home. They suffered their fifth defeat at Tofts Road this season as they went down by nine runs to Saltaire in another high-scoring encounter.

Saltaire became the latest side to inflict damage to St Lawrence's fading title hopes and they had Fawad Maqsood and opening bowler Imran Arif to thank for their win.

Maqsood struck six sixes and nine fours in an aggressive innings of 101 as Saltaire recovered from 15 for two to make 285 for nine. Khurram Maqsood (44) and Safaraaz Mahomed (35) gave him good support as the lack of penetration in the St Lawrence bowling was again exposed.

St Lawrence also made a poor start to their innings losing two wickets for 22 before Mark Robertshaw sparked a fine revival with an innings of 97 which included 13 fours.

James Smith hit a 47-ball half-century while both Gary Fellows and Chris Marsden made 3, but wickets tumbled at crucial times to the bowling of Arif (6-62) and Mansa Khan (2-41) and St Lawrence were dismissed for 276.

The result leaves them 31 points adrift of leaders Woodlands who had an easy eight-wicket win over bottom team Morley. Opener Russell Murray made 76not out and was well supported by Scott Richardson (41) and Nick Rushworth (330 as Morley's score of 181 for nine was passed with ease.

Morley's total was built on knocks of 48 by both Ed Galek and Dave Goodlad. Left arm spinner Chris Brice continued his good form for Woodlands with three for 42.

Woodlands are 19 points ahead of second-placed Pudsey Congs who were staring defeat in the face when they plunged to 84 for six in reply to Idle's score of 242 all out.

Once again skipper Matthew Doidge came in at a time of crisis and transformed the game. He made a chanceless 116 not out and shared a seventh-wicklet stand of 140 with Neil Gill (45) as his side snatched a two-wicket win and 19 points.

Dodge hit two sixes and 15 fours - his second six, a straight one off Sri Lankan paceman Dinusha Fernando, took him to his memorable century.

Idle were made to pay dearly for failing to cash in on the good work of the elegant Sujith Janaka (60), Harvey Anderson (49) and Javed Umarji (46) They guided their side to 177 for three, but a late clatter of wickets cost them dear. Gill was the best of the bowlers with three for 37.

Baildon got into the mood for today's Heavy Woollen Cup final by taking 20 points from their 145-run win over relegation- threatened Keighley.

Openers Colin DeGrandhomme and Simon Davies continued their good form with a partnership of 179.

The powerful DeGrandhomme struck three sixes and 16 fours in an outstanding knock of 111, while Davies boosted his runs tally with an elegant 68.

Teenager David Clow (53) and skipper Ian Philliskirk (34) helped swell the score to a daunting 298 for four.

Keighley struggled in reply and were dismissed for 153 with left-arm spinner Mushtaq Ahmed taking five for 21.

East Bierley off spinner Grant Soames took six for 47 as they bowled out Hanging Heaton for just 123. Kez Ahmed (4-30) was the other destroyer as Hanging Heaton plunged from41 for nought to 123 all out.

Bierley clinched a six-wicket win with Gavin Hamilton (48no) and Richard Gould (42) ensuring they didn't have any real alarms.

Cleckheaton eased their fears of being sucked into the relegation battle by defeating Farsley by four wickets. Farsley, who were given a good start of 96 by openers Steve Simpson (56) and Ashley Metcalfe (39), collapsed against the spin of Khurram Shehzad (4-5) and Tom Pringle (4-48), the last seven wickets falling for 21 runs as they were dismissed for 175.

Opener Adam Patel, leading the side in the absence of injured skipper John Wood, made 59 and was supported by Mark Gill (39) and Ian Nicholson (38) as a valuable win was achieved by Cleckheaton who picked up 17 points.

Former Brighouse player Richard Nichols made 57 to help Bradford & Bingley defeat his old club by five runs. Skipper Mark Gilliver (49) and Rizwan Ahmed (41) led Brighouse's reply to the home side's score of 210 all out but they fell five runs short.

Priestley Cup finalists Bowling Old Lane have taken over at the top of Division Two. They defeated Gomersal by five-wickets and leap-frogged over Manningham Mills who suffered a 64-run defeat against Bankfoot.

Amjid Khan took five for 60 as Gomersall were dismissed for 216. Opener Amir Siddique top scored with 62.

Old Lane eased to victory once openers Malif Aftab (67) and Rashid Ramzan (46) had launched the innings with a century partnership.

Old Lane now have a nine-point lead over Mills who were dismissed for 176 in reply to Bankfoot's 240 for five. Overseas player Afsar Nawaz made 66, but Mills but even he couldn't save his side from defeat.

Big-hitting Richard Peel marked a rare appearance in the Bankfoot side with a rapid 65 not out, after openers Simon Curry (64) and Michael Nicholson (60) launched the home side's innings with a century stand.

Third-placed Undercliffe also slipped up. They suffered an eight-wicket defeat against rapidly-improving Hartshead Moor. Undercliffe's normally powerful batting line-up was dismissed for 148 as Michael Padgett took five for 41.. James Clarke (37) was Undercliffe's top scorer.

Hartshead Moor reached their target with some ease. Craig Field led the way with a hard-hit 69, while Graham Hilton (31) shared an opening stand of 75 with Field.

Esholt suffered a setback to their promotion hopes when they suffered a 34-run defeat against Great Horton.

The home side made 190 for eight, a total boosted by an eighth-wicket stand of 53 between Numan Anson (52no) and Nasser Hussain (24no).

Esholt's batting faltered and they were dismissed for 156, Hussain taking four for 46.

Spen Victoria returned to winning ways with a comfortable 101-run triumph over Yeadon. Skipper Matt Taylor set the tone for his side's win with a fine innings of 102. Taylor hit two sixes and 12 fours, while Matthew Speck continued his good form with an unbeaten 56.

Yeadon plunged to 41 for five and never recovered. Left armer James Russell was the main destroyer with five for 51 as Yeadon were duismissed for 142 despite a defiant 55 from skipper David Leather.

Windhill at last had a first win to celebrate. they defeated fast-fading Lightcliffe by 97 runs. Maz Bhatti had a fine all round match making an unbeaten 67 as Windhill made 214 for seven and took five for 47as Lightcliffe were dismissed for 117. Avanish Aware also picked up five wickets at a cost of 26 runs. Australian Anthony Crilly (43) was Lightcliffe's top scorer.