JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams review August 2, 2008

Brook hits ton as East Bierley extend their lead

Posted: August 17. 2008

East Bierley opener Arron Brook hit a century as the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One champions took another step towards retaining their crown.

Brook made 101, an innings which contained 15 fours, as he helped his side beat Keighley by 177-runs - their 18th win in 21 games.

East Bierley are now 57 points ahead of second-placed Esholt and barring a dramatic loss of form, the title looks set to stay firmly in their grasp.

Thanks to Brook, East Bierley compiled an impressive 257-7. Steve Simpson (44) and Paul Ellis (39) were the other main contributors. Keighley were dismissed for just 80 as Matthew Anderson took four for 14, Dan Abbott (3-15) and Chris Brook (3-20).

Esholt were thwarted by the weather. Rain shaved three overs from the Pudsey St Lawrence reply to their score of 283-8 and it meant that as Esholt didn't bowl their opponents out they could not claim the ten points for a win because St Lawrence received fewer overs than them.

Michael Kelsey made 103, an innings which contained four sixes and ten fours, while skipper Dave Dawson hit 76 as he shared a fifth-wicket stand of 154 with Kelsey. Taimoor Shahid took five for 29 for St Lawrence.

Skipper James Milligan (79) and Duncan Butler (38no) helped St Lawrence reach 230-6 in reply. Chris Hester took five for 89 for Esholt.

Third-placed Woodlands had a comfortable seven-wicket win over Spen Victoria. They restricted Spen to 147-8 before easing to their victory target.

Farsley's recent revival came to a halt as they suffered a 25-run defeat against Pudsey Congs. Warren Allitt (72) and Phil Allinson (40) shared an opening stand of 101 which helped Congs on their way to a total of 205-9. Terry Staniforth was the best Farsley bowler with five for 60.

Skipper Michael Oldfield took five for 33 as Farsley were restricted to 180-9. Nigel Thornton was the top scorer for Farsley with 37.

Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield finalists Cleckheaton defeated Lightcliffe by 64 runs. Edward Walmsley made 66 and Craig Blackburn (40no) as Cleckheaton reached 218-6 before bowling out Lightcliffe for 154. Marcus Walmsley took five for 29 and Adam porritt (4-45).

John Carey took five for 30 as Yeadon bowled out Bowling Old Lane for 91 to secure a 65 run win. Graham Simpson (36) and Will Darby (31) were the pick of the Yeadon batsmen in their score of 156 all out. Fazal Hussain (3-36) and Talat Sajawal (3-45) were Old Lane's best bowlers.

Mohammad Abbas (58) and Mohammad Nawaz (55) helped Baildon to a 105-run win over Hanging Heaton. Baildon made 219-8 despite the efforts of Peter Byrne (4-71). Hanging Heaton replied with 114 all out . Andrew Nettleton (47no) was the top scorer while Joe Lonsdale (4-19) and Matthew Reed (3-15) were the pick of the bowlers.

Division Two leaders Bradford & Bingley were also thwarted by the rain. They lost seven overs from their innings and were unable to overhaul Windhill's 203-9 so they had to settle for two points for an incomplete match plus bonus points.

Tony Jones (56) and Andy Evans (54) helped Windhill post a score of 203-9. Dave Etherington (3-41) and Waj Ali (3-51) were Bingley's best bowlers. Michael Clarke made 74 as Bradford & Bingley replied with 173-5 in 43 overs.

Morley kept hold of second place with a 67-run win over Bankfoot. Richard Winn took five for eight as Morley dismissed their rivals for 51 in reply to their score of 118 which owed much to an innings of 67 from opener Ryan Dowse.

Undercliffe are just six points adrift of Morley after a seven-wicket win Hartshead Moor. Opener Craig Smith made a superb 97 which contained two sixes and 16 fours while Andy Wilsdon hit 48 not out as Undercliffe overhauled Hartshead Moor's score of 179. Andy Halford (72) and Mark Baldwin (42) were Hartshead's top scorers in the face of good bowling from Scott Dawson (4-44), Sunny Matharu (3-23) and Wilsdon (3-15).

Gomersal skipper Chris Rhodes took seven for 27 as his side dismissed Great Horton for 154. Zubair Ashraf (45) and Ramandeep Kang (30no) were the top scorers. Opener Simon Halls continued his rich vein of form with 86 for Gomersal - an innings which contained a six and 17 fours - as they cruised to a five-wicket win.

Mick Robinson took five for 20 as Saltaire beat Idle by four wickets. Thanks to Robinson, Idle were dismissed for 126.Opener Andrew Parratt top scored with 41. Saltaire recovered from losing three early wickets to win.

Brighouse had only nine players and were bowled out for 62 as they suffered a nine-wicket defeat against Manningham Mills. Navid Choudhary took five for 17 for Mills.