Craven Cricket League
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Thornton hope to claim league title
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| Cullingworth's Dave Hall and Thornton captain Jason Lockley hope the rain stays away for their title decider this weekend. |
Thornton and Cullingworth go into the final day of the Craven League season playing each other with a league championship at stake.
Cullingworth have the edge at the top of Division One with a one point lead over second placed Thornton, who will be hoping the rain stays away on Saturday so they can lay claim to their first title since 2000.
The two clubs were due to play each other on June 30 at Roydwood Terrace but that match was rained off, and so Saturday's title decider will determine which is the best team in the league.
Cullingworth did beat Thornton in the semi-final of the Wynn Cup and the former must actually play in the final on Sunday against Oakworth at Cure Hill. That match starts at 12.30pm.
In his first year as Thornton captain Jason Lockley, who played his cricket at Oakworth until he joined Thornton four years ago, said his team will be almost at full strength for Saturday's clash.
A full strength side is something that has been unusual for Thornton this year, which makes their position near the top of the league even more remarkable.
Lockley said: "I haven't picked the same 11 once this season and the same goes for this week."
Thornton were missing four or five players last week when they lost by seven wickets at Embsay.
Thornton club secretary Cyril Ashworth said: "With the side we took there I wasn't surprised we got beat."
The club has missed this season's new recruit, Ajmal Choudrhy, an all-rounder who joined the club from Barrowford. Choudrhy has missed the last six weeks with an injured thumb.
Alangar Anwar, a good bowler and big hitter, who also joined the club from Barrowford, will return to the line-up on Saturday after missing the last two weeks.
Lockley said that opener Kevin Pollard, who has been struggling with a virus, would be available for Saturday.
Ashworth said that Pollard is a club stalwart, having scored 17,500 runs in his 34 years at the club. Pollard, who has just turned 50, regularly scores 500 to 600 runs a season, said Ashworth.
But he is not only the only cog in the Thornton machine, as Lockley also said players like Richard Craddock and Mark Paxton have played well.
"Richard is our best all rounder, batting at No 3 and opening the bowling, and Mark regularly gets me wickets.
"We've got a team that is well balanced with bowlers and batters and has a mix of youth and experience," he said.
Cullingworth Cricket Club stalwart Steve Welch said: "Thornton are a good all round side with a good balance of bowling and batting. They are at or near the top of the league on merit."
A Thornton win on Saturday would bring back some good memories for the club, who were dominant in the 1980s.
Ashworth said: "We won the league six or seven times and had some success in the cup in that period."
1:46pm Thursday 13th September 2007
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