Rain washes away East Bierley's hopes of a tenth straight win
Posted: June 15, 2008
Champions East Bierley saw their hopes of a tenth straight win in the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One thwarted by the weather.
Rain interrupted their match with Hanging Heaton when they were pressing for victory and it meant that they had to settle for two points for an abandoned match plus the nine bonus points they had already collected.
Once again East Bierley made a challenging score. John Davis hit a six and 16 fours in a superb innings of 116 which enabled them to make 270-6 in their 50 overs. Leigh Abbott (40) and Matthew Anderson (30no) were the other main contributors. Hanging Heaton were in deep trouble at 119-8 when the end came.
East Bierley's misfortune with the weather enabled Esholt to reduce their lead to five points as they defeated Bowling Old Lane by four wickets Masaver Massidique hit an unbeaten 54 and Chris Hester (33) as Esholt overhauled an Old Lane score of 128 despite the efforts of Sajjat Riaz (4-51) to stop them.
Woodlands are third after beating Pudsey St lawrence by 69 runs. Greig Godfrey made 69 and Jamie Robson (33) as Woodlands made 190-8 before restricting St lawrence to 121-9. Duncan Butler made 47 for St Lawrence while skipper Phil Walker took three for 21 for Woodlands with his off spin.
Pudsey Congs are sixth after defeating lowly Lightcliffe by five wickets. Skipper Michael Oldfield took three for 16 as Lightcliffe were dismissed for 161, then openers Warren Allitt (58) and Phil Allinson (56) set their side on course for a successful run chase with a first-wicket stand of 90.
Teenager seamer Marcus Walmsley took six for 50 as he helped Cleckheaton to a 37-run win over Farsley. Cleckheaton made 252-6 with Chris Dobson (86) and Rhys Jowett (71) leading the way with a second-wicket partnership of 115.
Farsley made a brave bid to go for the runs with Ross Monaghan (53), Terry Staniforth (52) and Joe Greaves (43) leading the way, but Walmsley and Andy Porritt (3-44) made sure they didn't achieve their target.
Yeadon's left arm bowler Nick Darfield added another five wickets to his season's haul as his side dismissed Spen Victoria for just 91. Darfield took five for 14 and when Yeadon batted skipper Andrew Pickering hit an unbeaten 42 to steer them to victory.
Fourth-placed Keighley were left feeling under the weather. Rain meant 11 overs were lost from their match with Baildon and deprived them of the chance to push for victory.
Alan broadley was 72 not out as Keighley made 131-4 in the 39 overs that were possible, in reply to Baildon's 197-9, a score built around the contributions of James Butterfield (59) and Mohammad Abbas (49) Alex Towler took five for 60 for Keighley.
