Rainy weather hits all but six games

2:14pm Thursday 26th July 2007

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The frustrations for many cricketers continued when the 20 hours of rain fell on Friday and Saturday morning put paid to all but six games in the League.

Many squares and outfields were left more like paddy fields than cricket fields. The anguished cry from groundsmen goes up, how on earth can captains expect play to start on time when so much rain has fallen - give the pitches time to drain before trying to ruin not only the strip they are playing on but also the ones either side.

Of the six games played three were in the First Division with second placed Thornton beating Glusburn whilst the leaders Cullingworth were inactive just up the road at Bradley.

In a 40 overs per side game Glusburn batted first and battled their way to 192 with Nick Williamson making 49 and Nigel Hargreaves 40 no. Mark Paxton and Anwar both took three wickets each.

Kev Pollard 40 and Scott Hudson 33 got the Booth Bridge Lane side off to a solid start with 74 for the first wicket before Rob Foster and Anwar 43 took the score to 166-4. Foster continued to 56no as his side got home by four wickets with just over eight overs to spare.

Third placed Crossflatts were at home to Cowling and in a 32 over per side game the visitors went first and struggled to 109 all out in their innings.

Sixty year-old Steve Mitchell using his experience to top score with 25 as Mick Addy claimed 4-19. R Ayub and M Bailey also took three wickets each.

As with last week whilst Dominic Bennett was there Flatts stood a chance of taking the spoils. However, they had reached 101 when the last pair came together. Five runs were added before the last wicket fell in the 31st over and the home side were three runs short of their target.

Sutton entertained Bingley Congs in a 30 over per side game and going first were restricted to 101-6 with Justin Holdsworth scoring 32 and Chris Capstick 25. Neil Copping with 3-35 off 15 overs was the best bowler.

In reply Andy Copping and Chris Dibb put on 95 for the first wicket - the latter going for 49. Copping finished on 47no as the Beckfoot side romped to a 9 wicket victory with seven overs to spare.

There was no play in the Second Division and only one game in the Third Division which saw Skipton CI win at Gargrave to slip into second spot on run rate ahead of Wilsden.

Gargrave batted first and were dismissed for 95 with John Drake taking 5-55 and John Stuttard 3-23 as Taz Malik top scored with 30. Simon Bates then blasted 45 as the visitors eased home by six wickets.

The one game played in the Fourth Division saw Long Lee II close the gap on leaders Haworth Road II to just one point. Playing Bingley Congs, the Keighley side posted 168-7 built around an opening partnership of 112 with Jan Haider making 59 and Stevie Tempest 53 as M Baines took 5-62.

The Beckfoot side could only manage 71 with Jamie Dean scoring 28 as Shabaz Ahmed took 5-40.

COWLING CUP 3RD ROUND The tie between Barrowford and Haworth Road was settled by the toss of a coin after the prospect of any play was ruled out. Both captains agreed they would entrust the toss to Fixture Secretary, Trevor Coe.

By the wonders of modern technology he was able to speak to both captains as David Holdsworth of Sutton tossed the coin. (David had conveniently been delivering a scoresheet).

The coin came down in the favour of Haworth Road and they will take their place this Sunday in the semi-finals against Cullingworth.

Long Lee agreed to a hasty last minute switch to Cullingworth when it was found that their ground was not fit for play. There was great concern that Cullingworth's field was fit. However after working to clear water from the square it was agreed to start in a 35 over per side game.

The Keighley side won the toss and battled their way to 140-9 in their overs. Stevie Tempest continued his good work of the weekend with 49 and Haz Haider made 28, as Martin Rendell took 5-46 from his allotted nine overs.

The home side suffered a minor hiccup when Steve Dinsdale retired hurt in the early stages with a thigh strain.

Both sides tried to take charge and when Andy Hodgson joined John Terry it was the homesters who romped to victory.

Terry, who also needed a runner, scored 56 and Hodgson hit the winning runs to take him to 55 no. with five overs to spare. The winning margin was six wickets.

Cullingworth II and Haworth Road II will lock horns at Sutton whilst Ingrow II will tackle the holders, Oakworth II at Haworth this Sunday.

WYNN CUP The semi finals of the Wynn Cup are also this Sunday.

The holders Oakworth meet Cowling at Gargrave whilst Thornton and Cullingworth battle it out at Bradley.