Sovereign Health Care priestley Cup second round review

Posted: June 4, 2007

Brighouse v Lightcliffe Picture Gallery ........>> Click here

Woodlands v Pudsey Congs Picture Gallery ........>> Click here

Great Horton produced a stunning giant-killing act to send Pudsey St Lawrence crashing out of this season's Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup and tonight their Division Two rivals Morley also made it into the last eight with a 27-run win over Keighley in their rain-affected tie.

Both Great Horton, who triumphed by 47 runs as Ewart Street to follow up their first round victory over another Division One side, Farsley, and Morley will be hoping to land a plum tie in Saturday's third round draw which will be made during the tea interval at the match between East Bierley and Pudsey Congs.

The two Division Two sides go into the hat alongside Pudsey Congs, Baildon, Bowling Old Lane, Brighouse, Cleckheaton and Saltaire.

Few people would have dared to predict that Great Horton, seventh in Division Two, would beat St Lawrence who are currently third in Division One. But Great Horton showed little regard for the formbook as they defeated a ten-man St Lawrence team.

Even though the Saints were without regulars Gareth Clough and Iain Priestley they could have few complaints.

Great Horton were inspired by an outstanding all round performance from their skipper Kashif Naveed. He stroked three sixes and nine fours as he guided his side to a total of 203 all out. The next highest scorer was extras with 31 - a figure inflated by an excessive 20 wides.

For once their powerful batting line-up failed to function. Only James Smith with a robust 70, an innings which contained six sixes and three fours, defied the Great Horton bowlers for long as St Lawrence were dismissed for 156. Naveed followed up his batting exploits by taking two for 23 in ten accurate overs, while Iqbal Khan picked up three for 42.

Morley's victory seemed unlikely when they returned to Lawkholme Lane tonight to complete their tie. Keighley were 32-1 in reply to Morley's score of 204 when play resumed and appeared clear favourites as Morley took the field with four substitutes because work commitments meant that skipper Paul Kinder, Steve Lane, Matt Taylor and Richard Haikins were unabel to play.

Both Kinder and Taylor were expected to bowl so Shoaib Khan (2-33) and Ed Galek (1-50) were pressed into action having not bowled at all this season.

Morley's hero proved to be Richard Winn. He took four for 31 and turned the game with a hat-trick. Stuart Ratcliffe (59) looked to be winning the game for Keighley until Winn struck in the 45th over.

Ratcliffe was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Galek, followed next ball by Australian Greg kennedy who was caught by substitute Adam Larkin. Ross Towler was the third victim trapped lbw. In the space of three balls the entire match turned and Morley went on to bowl out their opponents for 177

The victory had initially been set up yesterday when Kinder (42), Khan (32) and Winn (28) carried their side to a score of 204 all out in the face of good bowling from Kennedy (3-31).

Another big name missing from the last eight is that of holders Woodlands. Finalists for the last four years, they went down by four wickets to Pudsey Congs in the top tie of the round.

Woodlands were made to pay dearly for a sloppy batting display which saw them bowled out for 185 with with 20 balls of their innings left. Murphy Walwyn top scored with 42, but too many of his colleagues got starts and then got out as indicated by the scores of Adam Goldthorpe (27), Nicky Rushworth (25), Tim Orrell (22) and Scott Richardson (22).

Congs kept the pressure on throughout with left arm spinner Glenn Roberts (3-31) again impressing. Matthew Doidge also picked up three wickets at a cost of 37 runs.

Congs made an uncertain start to their innings and were soon 23-2. They were revived by a third-wicket stand of 70 between Andrew Bairstow (49) and Scott Cunningham (31). Their good work was then built on by Doidge who was unbeaten on 43 when victory was achieved with 16 balls to spare. Safraz Ahmed was the pick of the Woodlands bowlers with two for 35.

Baildon bounced back from their league defeat by Pudsey St Lawrence on Saturday to register a comfortable 67-run win over Bradford & Bingley. Their success was based on a solid batting effort which was spearheaded by Simon Davies (56), Simon Webb (45) and Jeremy Batty (37) as a total of 257 all out was posted. Chris Thompson bowled impressively for Bradford & Bingley to take six for 35.

Bradford & Bingley were given a great start to their reply by openers Scott Etherington (57) and Carl Sharp (42), but once they were parted wickets tumbled in the pursuit of quick runs and Bradford & Bingley were eventually dismissed for 180. Skipper Ian Philliskirk took three for 32 and Jamie Abbott (3-37).

In-form Ian Wood produced another fine all-round performance as Cleckheaton defeated Hanging Heaton by 18 runs to clinch their quarter-final place. Wood made a timely 50 to help his side reach 235-8, then took four for 49 as Hanging Heaton were dismissed for 217

Overseas batsman Mohammad Zaman was the top scorer for Cleckheaton with 74 while Tom Pringle (28) made another useful contribution down the order.

Hanging Heaton's innings was dominated by Nick Whitehill (70) and Zac Morris (66) but once they were parted the innings went into rapid decline. Pringle maintained his run of success by taking four for 30.

Last year's beaten finalists Bowling Old Lane had little trouble overcoming Esholt. They bowled out the Division Two promotion chasers for 109 with Bilal Ejaz picking up three for 35.

Old Lane eased to their victory target in 23.3 overs but they did have a late attack of the jitters as they lost four wickets for just one run to slide from 74-1 to 75-5. Fifteen-year-old Fahid Rehman (23no) steadied their nerves and steered them home. His father Khalid top scored with 27. Esholt's best bowler was Ben Platt with two for 27.

Young all-rounder Adal Islam made 90 and took three for 36 to help Saltaire to a 12-run win over Undercliffe. Mansha Khan, who made 43 not out at number ten, was the next highest scorer in a Saltaire total of 233-8.

Arun Lal was the pick of the Undercliffe bowlers with three for 29 and was also their top scorer with 43 as they were bowled out for 221. Darren Blenkiron (40) was the other main scorer.

Brighouse shrugged off a dramatic batting collapse which saw them lose their last nine wickets for just 26 runs as they beat Lightcliffe by 23 runs.

Brighouse seemed to be heading for a big score as James Clarke (82) and skipper Mark Gilliver (54) set the early temp, but the innings declined rapidly once Lightcliffe skipper Richard Nichols (3-25) entered the attack. Brighouse plunged from 175-1 to 201 all out.

Lightcliffe's reply was dominated by opener Michael Brooke. He made 70, but didn't get the support he needed as his side were restricted to 178-9. Richard Elphee took five for 38 for Brighouse.

First round review........>>Click here