12:00pm Thursday 18th June 2009
By Sportsdesk
Batsmen had a field day last week with 15 scores in excess of 200 and two over 300. There was a league record broken when Cononley IIs and Bradley IIs tied.
At another match a player was barred from taking the field in the second half after he was found to be drinking alcohol and there was a lucky escape for the tea ladies at Bradley. All in all a very interesting Saturday.
In the First Division of the Mewies Solicitors Craven and District Cricket League, the top-of- the-table clash between Cullingworth and Haworth Road went the way of the visitors - just to prove that their cup win on the same ground was not a fluke - and they now take over top spot.
The Baildon Bottom side batted first and, led by Mansha Khan hitting a super 110 and Paul Rodwell 75, they totalled 241. Then skipper Andrew Gudgeon spun his way to 5-25 to have the homesters back in the hut for 140.
Crossflatts are on of three teams on 16 points in third place. They entertained Cowling and batting first rattled up 213-6 in their innings with Ryan Brooksbank leading the way with 73 and Bash Khan making 40. The visitors made a valiant effort which fell only 23 short. Mike Dudley made 48 and veteran Steve Mitchell 44.
Oakworth travelled to Thornton and surprisingly came unstuck against one of the bottom two. The Booth Bridge Laners amassed 236-8 in their overs with Jason Lockley smiting 101 and 18- year-old Jack Laycock 54 as evergreen Kev Pollard chipped in with 41 as Jack Ellis claimed 5-76.
The Cure Hill side battled back but were dismissed for 198 with Robert Hopkinson top scoring with 83 as Jack Laycock rounded off a super day with 6-52 and Marc Laycock claimed 4-74.
There were two vintage performances at Shires Lane where Glusburn were the visitors. Embsay went first and were in trouble at 109-7. Duncan Bullough joined John Hillary and the pair took the total to 180 where the latter departed for 27. A couple of quick wickets fell before last man Scott Robinson joined Bullough and the pair took the score to 227-9. Earlier 14-year-old Josh Robinson made 39 and N Khan took 5-23 off seven overs.
Then Stephen Speak turned in a terrific performance with the ball to take 9-51 off 15 overs to leave the Park Field side in disarray on 105 all out. Sixteen-year-old John Golson top scored with 28.
Sandy Lane had an excellent win at Haworth to drag themselves up the table. They went first and clattered 251-4 with Luke Ellis making 87no and opener Mark Oldfield carrying his bat for 67no. Only Peter Gower, with a fine knock of 88, offered much resistance in their reply of 179, with Ellis taking 6-63 off 15 overs.
The derby between Bradley and Cononley saw 481 runs scored. The home side went first and blasted a magnificent 318-4 in their overs. Opener Chris Simpson plundered a superb 152 as he and Chris Capstick who made 61 put on a staggering 231 for the first wicket.
One of Simpson’s shot went like a tracer bullet towards the pavilion. It went straight through the kitchen window showering the teas, being prepared, with glass and very fortunately missing the tea ladies and the renowned apple pies!
The Slater’s Arms came to the rescue by quickly preparing sandwiches etc.
The visitors replied with 163 with Andrew Starkey scoring 41 as Neil Robinson took 4-14 off 4.1 overs.
Leaders of the Second Division, Bingley Congs, were at Glusburn IIs, who batting first made a creditable 176-9 with Paul McCollough making 59 as Chris Hemsley took 4-62. The Beckfoot side were merciless in their run chase and stormed home by eight wickets in the 27th over. Tom Keighley smashed 79no and Andrew Copping 58. Long Lee are in second spot on their own after seeing off Chatburn by 142 runs at Golden View. Alan Broadley (73), Matt Taylor (45) and Richard Ayrton (43) helped the homesters to 212-6.
The Ribble Valley side were never in the hunt as a devastating spell of 7-26 in 15 overs by Shabaz Ahmed had them back in the pavilion for a paltry 70.
Wilsden are one of three sides on 16 points. They too showed no mercy to the opposition on their visit to Ingrow. The Hainworth side made a solid 173-9 in their overs with Aide Parker top scoring with 53 as Ben Peirson took 4-47. The Windy grove side galloped to an eight wicket in the 33rd over with S Wilson making 84no and skipper Steve Wright 66no. They put on an undefeated 128 for the third wicket.
Chatburn and Pendle Forest are the other two level with Wilsden on points. The latter entertained neighbours Foulridge and, going first, smashed 250-8 with Andrew Townsend leading the way with 60 as Chris Brooker-Carey laboured away to finish with 6-84 off 23 overs. As with Chatburn the Noyna side collapsed to 70 all out with Peter Hakin taking 4-15 and Jon Cant 3-37.
Barrowford recorded their second win of the season when they overcame Sutton at Bull Holme, 16-year-old Freddie Bailey with 87 helping the red rose side to 178-8 with H Shazad taking 4-45. Then in the reply he scored 47 as the South Craveners closed 40 runs short. They were undone by a terrific spell of bowling from Mark Atkinson who took 8-66, which included the hat-trick.
Another bowler in form was Skipton CI’s John Stuttard as he claimed 7-68 off 19.1 overs, which restricted visitors Ingrow St John’s to 154. Colin Bottomley top scored with 47. In the reply Chris Wright lambasted a quick fire 52 and Paul Mason 39.
However, things were looking decidedly wobbly at 127-5 and a weak tail to follow. In stepped second teamer John Carlisle, who applied commonsense to proceedings. He took no risks and showed great patience as he edged his side nearer to the finishing line. It was in the 41st over that victory was achieved by four wickets with Carlisle 17no.
Third Division leaders Haworth WE were in imperial form as they smashed a staggering 296-3 off visitors Embsay IIs. Joe Bottomley made a mighty 130no, Andy Parker 49 and Tinashe Gomwe and Chris Jones 45 apiece.
The shell- shocked Shires Laners made a creditable reply of 181 with Alan Pickles and Brian Hodgson each making 36 as Andy Benfield took 4-40 and Corey Benfield 4-69.
Riddlesden are keeping abreast of the Bronte side by seeing off Denholme by 27 runs on their own patch in a high scoring game. Adam Khan (72) and S Mahmood (67) help the Stockbridge side to 239 as Luke Pickles took 5-65 off 12 overs. The homesters replied with 212 thanks mainly to Stuart Rogers 79 and Rob Taylor 41 as R Jain claimed 5-56.
Brannan Lawn top scored with 55 as Oakworth II posted 204-9 at home to Gargrave with T Cowburn taking 4-63 off 19 overs and 17-year-old John Beckwith made 54 and 14-year-old Will Smith 51 as the visitors replied with 166-9.
Airedale beat Ingrow St John’s IIs at Street Lane by four wickets with the star of the show being Joe Milner who took 7-71 and he followed it with 74 for the winners.
Long Lee IIs dismissed Cowling IIs for 63 at Keighley Road with only S Shafait with 24 making double figures. I Shah was the best bowler taking 4-24 in 14 overs. The Keighley side’s reply was abysmal as they crumpled to 44 all out. Z Shafait took 5-14 and S Shafait 4-28 as Steve Tempest was the only other player to reach double figures in the game with 25no.
Haworth Road were the other side to total over 300 as they rattled up 313-4 at home to Barrowford IIs. Richard Butterfield (101no) and Josh Crooks (103) put on 170 for the fourth wicket. The red rose closed on 134 to lose by 179 runs. J Nutter top scored with 29 as veteran Martyn Burgess took 3-45 off 9 overs.
The new League record came at Cononley IIs where Bradley IIs were the visitors. Both sides scored 250, which establishes the highest tied game. The previous record was set in 2006 when Haworth and Cullingworth tied on 232.
The visitors had first crack and they posted 250-3 with Michael Clarkson scoring a fine 94no to go with 16-year-old J Price’s maiden senior half century. He finished with 73. Opener Chris Brookes with 60 put on 113 for the first wicket with Clarkson.
Cononley’s early batsmen had a go with T Starkey making 28, experienced campaigner John Pearson 70 and Herbie Starkey 79.The final over arrived with eight required. They managed seven and closed on 250-7. Andy Holmes finished with 5-91 off 18 overs.
That tie enables Cononley IIs to stay in joint top place in the Fourth Division with Eldwick & Gilstead, who entertained Cullingworth IIs and won comfortably by eight wickets.
Ingrow IIs are four points adrift in third place. They travelled to Wilsden IIs and made 188-9 with Adie Stokes making 38 as Kevin Wilmot took 7-43. The home side got home by four wickets, off the penultimate ball of the match, with Rob Greenwood making 60.
Crossflatts IIs trip over the border proved to be fruitful as they beat Chatburn IIs by five wickets, and Airedale IIs went down by three wickets at home to Pendle Forest IIs.
Sandy Lane IIs won the basement battle with a sad Haworth IIs by 138 runs.
Evergreen Joe McCool defied the years when asked to open the bowling for Riddlesden IIs in the Fifth Division. The leaders dismissed Denholme IIs for just 86 with McCool taking 5-43 off 16 overs.
Haworth WE IIs dropped three points down at Bingley Congs IIs. They could only manage 126 with P Breary making 42 as M Baines finished with 4-33. The Beckfoot side were made to work hard for the points. They got home in the 39th over with J Dean making 60 as J Holt claimed 4-37.
Oakworth IIIs also dropped three points, and are tied in second spot with Haworth WE IIs.
They entertained Eldwick & Gilstead IIs, who racked up 219 with G Blenkiron (63) and W Riaz (50) putting on 102 for the seventh wickets. The Cure Hill side closed on 161 in the 32nd over.
Glusburn IIIs managed their third win over at Little Marsden and Skipton CI IIs went down by five wickets at Pendle Forest IIIs.
Finally Sutton IIs batsmen enjoyed themselves as they plundered 251-7 at home to Bradford and Bingley IIIs, with Paul Williams scoring 56, Chris Smith 42 and D Clark 38. The visitors made a creditable 181 in reply with D Critchlow making 83 as seasoned campaigner David Holdsworth took 4-38 off 12 overs.
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