Craven Cricket League
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Pollard's 65 gives Thornton a lift
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| A picture-esque view of Thornton-in-Craven cricket ground. |
Yet again some of the Craven League's cricketers were left frustrated because of the weather conditions. However in the games where play was possible there were some intriguing results.
The top two in the First Division both had narrowish victories. Evergreen Kev Pollard made 65 as Thornton rattled up 195-7 in their overs.
Richard Craddock chipped in with 24 and Ajmal Choudrhy 22 as R Ayub claimed 3-82 off 19 overs.
Whilst Ayub and D Bennett were together visitors Crossflatts were in with a chance. Sadly they both perished for 43 and 42 respectively, with the score on 147. Craddock and another evergreen, Mark Paxton, returned to the attack and mopped up the tail. Paxton finished with 6-41, and Craddock 3-62.
Cullingworth entertained Sandy Lane who put up a terrific fight before going down by two wickets. The Greenwood Park side went first and scored a mammoth 218-8 with Paul Thomas scoring a superb 111 as Gareth Marshall took 4-61.
The home side got home thanks to a fighting 41 not out by Adie Powis.
Oakworth failed to close the gap on Crossflatts after they went down by 26 runs in a 35-over per side game at Embsay. Some tight bowling by Graham Rankin 3-21 off 12 pegged back the home side before Scott Hartley took 3-14 off five very tidy overs to restrict them to 97-7 with Simon Bailey top scoring on 25.
In the Cure Hill side's reply of 71 all out, Rankin top scored with 17 as Stephen Speak took 5-26 and Bailey 3-28.
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| Thornton's Kevin Pollard salutes his half century. |
There was a stunning finish at Bingley Congs where Bradley were the visitors. The Beckfoot side posted a competitive 153-8 in their overs with Roger Howard scoring 49 not out and extras 28.
James Heseltine was the best bowler with 3-35 off 13 overs. The visitors reply was going along very smoothly at 98-0 after 24 overs. Nine overs later they were all back in the pavilion for 128. Skipper Andrew Copping claiming 6-11 off 4.5 overs and Howard 4-22 off 8 overs.
Up at Cowling visitors Sutton were knocked over for 64 with Martyn Dalby taking 6-29. Gareth Frankland with 39 not out led the homesters to victory by seven wickets.
There was no play between Haworth and Glusburn. Barrowford were thwarted in their top of the table clash at Airedale, because of the conditions.
Cononley were unable to take over second spot from Airedale after they crashed by 75 runs at Glusburn II. The homeside walloped 203-8 in the overs led by Karl Samson 63 and Alan Coney 36 as Matt Town took 4-65.
The visitors then crashed to 128 despite J Granger scoring 41 and James Wade 33. S Wright with 5-37 doing the most damage with the ball.
That defeat enabled Chatburn to jump into joint second spot after they saw off Ingrow by 21 runs in the Ribble Valley. David Price 44 and 36 apiece from Neil Cartledge and Andy Booth helped the homeside to 173 -8.
In the Keighley side's reply Adie Parker with an excellent 97 threatened to take the points back home, but he was one of four wickets to fall for just two runs as the innings closed on 152. Booth 5-42 and Steve Bowker 3-6 doing most of the damage.
Haworth Road got back to winning ways after they saw off Long Lee by four wickets at Baildon Bottom, with Mick Holmes 4-19 and Charlie Hainsworth 38 being their best performers.
There was no play between Ingrow St John's and Embsay II.
Neither Pendle Forest nor Wilsden, the top two in Division Three, were in action so third place Skipton CI had the chance to go second. However they blew it as they crashed by six wickets at home to Airedale II. Giles Wilmore 7-23 and J Perry 3-35 hustled the home side back to the hut for 62. Then Nick Ahad top scored with 21 as the visitors took the spoils.
Oakworth II closed to within a point of Wilsden II when they beat Ingrow St Johns II by six wickets at Cure Hill.
Haworth WE slipped to defeat at Penistone Park, with Gargrave winning by 43 runs. P Cowburn 34 and D Greenwood 6-35 being their match winners.
There was a tie between Barrowford II and Cowling II. The Bull Holme side made 105-9 with M Zulfiqar and A Shafait taking three wickets each. The white rose side needed five to win with the last pair at the wicket. Oliver Wiggan hit a four to tie the scores and was then bowled by J Ormerod who finished with 3-34. Mark Atkinson with 3-8 off five overs ripped out the middle order of Cowling.
Division Four leaders Haworth Road II extended their lead over second place Long Lee II to three points after they were unable to play at Wilsden II and the Keighley side crashed to 41-run defeat at home to Riddlesden.
Third placed Crossflatts II also slipped to defeat, by fivewickets, at home to Bingley Congs II.
Sandy Lane II got the better of Haworth II in a low scoring game at Greenwood Park The Bronte side were knocked over for 51 with N Smith taking 5-16 and D Dunne 5-32. The homesters got home by three wickets despite Derek Bright taking 5-23.
Ingrow will want to quickly forget about their 195-run defeat at home to Thornton II. The Booth Bridge Lane side crashed 228-6 in their innings with N Paxton scoring a superb 98 and J Wiseman 40. Then Marc Laycock took 7-15 inonly 7.1 overs to hustle the Keighley side out for a paltry 33.
Bradley II and Pendle Forest II were unable to make a start.
The leaders of Division Five, Haworth WE II were also left inactive by the weather which allowed Cullingworth II to go top after they won comfortably over at Pendle Forest III by sevenwickets.
Sutton II recorded only their third victory of the season as they beat Oakworth III by 51 runs at Royd Hill, with Chris Smith 51, Chris Williams 5-34 and David Holdsworth 4-19 proving to be their match winners.
Denholme II got the better of Gargrave II, winning by 48 runs in North Yorkshire. M Armitage scored 48 as the visitors made 121-9 with youngster Will Stanley taking 4-26 and J Beckwith 3-23. The home side tumbled to 73 all out with Paul Sutcliffe taking 4-23 and Katie Briggs 3-16.
There was no play in the games at Eldwick and Gilstead II, Foulridge II or Cononley II.
Finally you can't keep the mercurial Mel Mason out of the picture, Despite ending on the losing side as Skipton CI II went down by two wickets at Riddlesden II, he performed the hat trick, bowling just one over and finishing with 3-1. Earlier another veteran, Joe McCool, took 6-19.
On the cup front it was more frustration for the games still outstanding. Barrowford II and Haworth II will have a go next Sunday as will Long Lee II and Cullingworth II.
In the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy, Oakworth and Treeton were just about to do battle when heavy rain put paid to that idea. The two will meet again next Sunday at Cure Hill when a result must be reached.
The Wynn Cup semi-final grounds have been sorted out. Oakworth will play Cowling at Gargrave and Cullingworth and Thornton will battle it out at Bradley.
In the Cowling Cup, Ingrow II and Oakworth II will play at Haworth with the other match at Sutton.
3:41pm Thursday 19th July 2007
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