Wakefield St Michael's 97 all out

Keighley 98-1

KEIGHLEY made it back-to-back wins way from home in All-Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship One with a nine-wicket victory over Wakefield St Michael’s this last weekend.

Skipper Paul Quinlan won the toss and did not hesitate in asking the home side to bat first.

Keighley’s bowling attack found swing and bounce from the first ball and excellent line and length bowling from James Rogers found Keighley’s first two wickets clean bowling both Adil Mehmood (5) and Mitchell Forsyth (5).

These early breakthroughs were capitalised on further as Quinlan and new overseas signing Alex Antoine destroyed Wakefield’s middle and lower order, only Ayaz Seedat with a composed 42 offered any form of resistance as Wakefield were cleaned up for just 97.

Rogers finished with figures of 2-9 off seven overs, with Quinlan taking 3-30 and Antoine 3-27.

In reply, Keighley got off to a stuttering start losing Richard Gould for just two with the score on 11.

However, this brought to the crease Louis Horsfield to partner Luke Chapman. Horsfield, 18, produced another mature innings alongside the patient Chapman and the pair put on an unbroken partnership of 87 as they saw their team home by nine wickets with 18 overs to spare. Chapman finished on 45 and Horsfield 40.

Meanwhile, Keighley’s second string won their first game of the season with an exciting victory at home to Methley.

Skipper Alex Towler lost the toss and was asked to bat first.

Methley’s bowlers took advantage of a wicket offering uneven bounce and with Methley skipper Ben Waite in particular mean form had Keighley on the ropes at 39-5.

Rory Robinson (27) and Ash Robinson (28) offered some resistance with a 50 partnership, but once they were removed, the remaining batting line-up crumbled to 110 all out in 42 overs. Waite took 4-9, aided by Robert Clegg with 3-23.

In reply, defending a small total, Towler decided to open the bowling himself along with Dillon Birkett.

Both bowlers hit the deck hard and Birkett especially got the ball to swing immediately.

The pair ruthlessly tore through the Methley line-up with Jake Smart (31no) the only player to offer any resistance.

But he eventually ran out of partners as Methley were bowled out for 94, 17 runs short of victory.

Birkett finished with 4-25, backed up with Towler’s 3-26 and Jack Rogers with 2-19.

Meanwhile, fresh from their first win of the season the day before, Keighley II travelled to Gomersal for the first round of the Priestley Shield.

Gomersal skipper Matthew Barnes won the toss and invited Alex Towler’s side to bat first.

Gomersal is a well-known batters paradise and Keighley made use of some wayward bowling as they hit the ball to every part of the ground.

Nathan Storton was in brutal mood as he smashed 97 off just 94 deliveries. Adam Smith also plundered 45 off just 36 deliveries as Keighley posted a huge target of 316-9.

Facing such a daunting total, Gomersal’s predicament became worse when Dillon Birkett took the first of his two wickets with just 17 on the board.

Despite a spirited 53 from Javid Umarji, the home side crumbled to 135 all out giving Keighley a huge 181-run victory and their name into the second round draw. Pick of the bowlers was Raees Hussain with 3-14.